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After the Irish Pilot’s Association threatened to strike on December 20th if Ryanair continued its refusal to recognize organized labor groups, the massive airline conceded and agreed to negotiate and sent out letters to pilot unions in the UK, Ireland, Germany, Italy, and Spain this Friday inviting them to talks. CEO Michael O’Leary has said that “hell would freeze over” before Ryanair workers unionized, but the threat a strike in the middle of holiday travel season was enough for him to finally change this longstanding policy. The low-cost airline giant has been long known for having poor labor relations, and this dramatic reversal of their anti-union policy has emboldened their workers, who will likely push for further concessions in the near future.