Catherwood LibraryILR School

After nearly a year of tension between unionized Ryanair pilots in Italy, Ireland, and Portugal and their employer, employees in all three countries have threatened to stage pre-Christmas strikes. The Italian pilots are the most recent to have voted to strike in the coming week, preceded by the Portuguese pilots’ strike vote and followed by the Irish pilots’ initiation of a strike vote. Following over 20,000 flight cancellations earlier this year due to a scheduling error on the company’s behalf, Ryanair and its pilots have endured highly strained relations. Ryanair representatives have maintained a dismissive tone towards the pilots’ alleged plans to initiate industrial action, citing numerous instances in which employees have threatened to strike and never followed through. However, Ryanair has also threatened the Irish pilots following suit with their Italian and Portuguese counterparts, claiming that there will be changes to their pay and working conditions should they vote to strike. The airline company does not formally recognize unions and holds that nothing will materialize from these votes, regardless. Pilots are hoping to finally receive answers from Ryanair regarding the myriad problems that led to the mass cancellations which took place several months ago.