Skip to main content

One year on, Ryanair still needs to stabilise its industrial relations

ニュース 記者発表資料

On 15 December 2017, under immense pressure from workers and facing looming challenges to its growth plans and corporate governance, Ryanair announced that it would recognise unions for the first time. Today, the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) and European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF) have published a report examining the progress the airline has made and what remains to be done.

The report – A Year of Change? – acknowledges that Ryanair workers have won improvements in some areas, but shows that many of the issues which led to repeated industrial action over the summer have not been resolved. Crucially, while recognition agreements have been signed with unions in some jurisdictions, the majority of workers have yet to see any substantial improvements in pay or conditions.

In addition to this, the company faces ongoing scrutiny of its corporate governance practices. Ahead of its annual general meeting in September, multiple investors and shareholder advisory firms joined ITF and ETF’s call to oust chairman David Bonderman, who has proven himself incapable of holding the executive management to account. Although Mr Bonderman remains in post, one-third of shareholders either voted against him or registered an abstention.

Meanwhile, both Ryanair and chief executive Michael O’Leary are being sued in the United States for allegedly misleading investors over the company’s industrial relations situation, which may have served to unfairly inflate its share price. And despite his claims of progress, just last week Mr O’Leary was voted the world’s worst boss in a public poll conducted by the International Trade Union Confederation.

Stephen Cotton, ITF general secretary, said: “A year on from its recognition announcement, Ryanair is trying to claim it has achieved industrial peace. In fact, our report shows that many of the issues that triggered strike action have yet to be resolved.”

“We commend the workers and our affiliate unions who have fought to win change at Ryanair. In 2019, the fight will continue to transform Ryanair into a sustainable, unionised business.”

Eduardo Chagas, ETF general secretary, said: “There are few business which pose a greater threat to the European social model than Ryanair. I’m proud that our movement is tackling this company head-on. Above all, we’ve broken the silence around Ryanair’s abusive business model so that staff can speak up without fear.”

“Nevertheless, concrete progress is slow. Ryanair will not see the end of this worker unrest until it puts its practices of social dumping, exploitation and union-busting firmly in the past. As part of our Fair Transport campaign, we will continue to challenge any business which thinks it doesn’t have to play by the same rules as everyone else.”

Post new comment

Restricted HTML

  • Allowed HTML tags: <a href hreflang> <em> <strong> <cite> <blockquote cite> <code> <ul type> <ol start type> <li> <dl> <dt> <dd> <h2 id> <h3 id> <h4 id> <h5 id> <h6 id>
  • Lines and paragraphs break automatically.
  • Web page addresses and email addresses turn into links automatically.

現場の声

ニュース

2024年ITF世界大会、平和、労働者の権利、国際連帯への大胆なコミットメントで閉会

マラケシュで開催された2024年ITF世界大会の歴史的最終セッションでは、全世界の交通運輸労組の揺るぎない決意を再確認し、今後5年間のITF戦略を策定する重要な動議を採択し、役員の選出も行った。 労働者の力を高め、搾取と分断を進める勢力に対抗することに明確な焦点を当てた今大会は、激動の増す世界において、正義、平等、連帯のテーマを定め、譲ることのできない一線を明確にした。その中心にあるのは
ニュース

ミレイ政権(アルゼンチン)の反労組の法律に抗議し、交通運輸労組がスト

 ITF は本日ストを決行するアルゼンチンの交通運輸労働者に連帯を送る。  アルゼンチンの交通運輸労組は、ハビエル・ミレイ大統領の労働者に対する攻撃(緊縮財政、スト権に対する攻撃、反労組の政策等)に抗議している。  ミレイ政権は、投資家に減税を施し、大企業に迎合する一方、国営のアルゼンチン航空を民営化して、補助金を撤廃しようとしている。  これまで
ニュース

我々の運動を発展・活性化させる青年労働者

ITFの青年登録人員は2018年の前回大会時の115万人から178万人へ 55%増加した。 これは、ITF加盟組織が青年を優先させ、より幅広く利益代表できる力強いグローバル組織の構築を目指した結果である。 本日、マラケシュで開催されたITF青年総会に、 71カ国、 142組合から 190人を超える青年労働者が参加した。参加者は組織拡大を祝うとともに、「安定した仕事と安全な職場は、もはや希望ではなく