At the beginning of the month, an indefinite strike notice was introduced to Ryanair management in Dublin by Belgian trade unions CNE and ACV Puls, on behalf of the Belgium-based cabin crew of the low-cost airline. This week, the notice materialises with a 3-day strike at Zaventem and Charleroi airports from Friday 22 April to Sunday 24 April.
Conflicts between staff and the airline have been on-going for a few years. In 2018, Ryanair accepted to follow Belgian law for the Belgium-based employees and nominated a HRD for the region. Somebody was hired for the position but, in the meantime, has stopped working. The lack of a local Human Resources Department is part of the problem and, according to the unions, it is why salaries are not paid accordingly.
Ryanair simply ignores the fundamental rights of their Belgian employees.
Hans Elsen, representative ACV Puls for Belga News Agency
“Three years after having finally accepted to respect Belgian legislation, Ryanair continues to flout the rights of its workers. Every month, irregularities are committed concerning remuneration, and erroneous information continues to put workers in serious difficulty, particularly with regard to their health insurance and their economic unemployment linked to the Covid-19 crisis. The cup is full”, reads the statement form the unions.
Representative of ACV Puls Hans Elsen has told Belga News Agency that “Despite numerous mediation attempts, solutions remain absent”, thus the strike was inevitable, especially since the airline “simply ignores the fundamental rights of their Belgian employees. Some staff members who are no longer allowed to fly because of pregnancy, for example, have been without pay or benefits for months.” Furthermore, the National Central Employees (CNE) explained that up to 75% of employees are only paid minimum wage, despite working overtime and on public holidays.
All this for a derisory gross amount of 2,000 euros. Although Ryanair has a profit margin of 30% at Charleroi, Belgium’s largest base, and expects to make a profit of €1 billion this year, there is no margin for improving the purchasing power of workers.
CNE
There are about 650 Ryanair employees at the two Brussels airports and the impact of the strike is not yet known. Passengers planning to travel at the end of the week should take into consideration serious disruptions and consider alternative options. Pilots are not part of the strike, but CNE permanent secretary Didier Lebbe warned at the beginning of the month that “there is a good chance social peace will also be broken”.
In reaction to the foreseen strike, Belgian secretary of state for consumer affairs Eva De Bleeker calls on the airline to meet its commitment towards customers and refund the tickets for flights that will be cancelled this weekend. She also insists passengers qualify for compensation and advises them to demand it.
