BALPA temporarily suspend campaign at Ryanair

On Friday last, Ryanair welcomed the decision by BALPA (British Airlines Pilots Association) to 'temporarily suspend' it's campaign for union recognition among the UK based Ryanair pilots. According to the airline, BALPA wrote to Ryanair on June 19 last seeking to impose union recognition among the pilot's group. Ryanair told the union 'to go away' on the basis that it negotiates directly with the pilots as evidenced by the fact that the four pay and condition agreement with cockpit crew has been recently extended.

According to the airline, BALPA 'wouldn't take the hint' and threatened to refer the matter to the CAC (Central Arbitration Committee) who would have had the power to force a secret ballot among pilots to see if they wanted union recognition. When BALPA failed to get any support among pilots it decided to suspend it's campaign.

Ryanair's Direct of Personnel, Eddie Wilson commenting on the matter said “Perhaps now would be a good time for BALPA – the British Airways Lunching Pilots Association – to accept that Ryanair’s UK pilots have better pay, better terms and conditions and better rosters than the pay cuts and job losses being negotiated by BALPA at many other British airlines. This is why Ryanair’s UK pilots don’t need and don’t want the “help” of a failed BA pilots union, which last year spent four times more on lunches, conferences, entertainment and travel (£886,000) than they did on legal fees defending their members (£191,000).