Press Release – Brussels, 27 July 2018 – EurECCA, the European Cabin Crew Association representing more than 35,000 cabin crew, for the third time this week demands respect, integrity and fairness for Ryanair’s cabin crew and pilots. This third appeal comes after yesterday’s announcement to cut its Dublin-based fleet by 20% this winter, following through on a threat it made to stop its Irish pilots striking. This announcement comes at a time when cabin crew are striking in several European countries over concerns around safety issues and unfair working conditions.
More than 200 cabin crew and 100 pilots in Dublin and could be affected by the move, who have been told by Ryanair management that they will either be sacked or forced to leave their home base and be transferred to Poland. Ryanair already announced in May last year that it would pump up its services to the Polish charter market by transferring five aircrafts this year and an additional ten next year. This is in obvious contradiction to Ryanair’s claim yesterday that the measures that were planning to take were due to “a down turn in forward bookings and airfares in Ireland partly as a result of recent rolling strikes by Irish pilots”.
“Making such an announcement in the midst of strikes for fair working conditions is inflammatory and is pure intimidation. It is adding fuel to a fire that has been smouldering for some time and is about to catch light,” said Christoph Drescher, President of EurECCA. “Ryanair needs to start taking its cabin crew and passengers seriously as there is increasing frustration and anger on all fronts. This can only escalate if not dealt with swiftly.”
National unions want to negotiate but our genuine and ongoing attempts to get Ryanair to engage with cabin crew in good faith has fallen on deaf ears as they refuse to listen to or even acknowledge the very real problems cabin crew are facing. But they need to wake up soon and listen as cabin crew, and indeed pilots, across Europe are united and determined to achieve the fair working conditions they ask for and a safer environment for both crew members and passengers.
About EurECCA
Established in Brussels in 2014, the European Cabin Crew Association, EurECCA, represents, protects and develops the rights and needs of cabin crew all over Europe. It is composed of cabin crew unions from European Union Member States as well as accession and bordering states and represents some 35,000 cabin crew accounting for 70% of all organised cabin crew in Europe. EurECCA has no political connections.
EurECCA represents, protects and develops the rights and needs of cabin crew all over Europe
EurECCA’s work is mainly around cabin and passenger safety and cabin crew health and work and living conditions.
