Unions extend Ryanair cabin crew strikes until January 2023

USO and Sitcpla, the unions that represent Ryanair cabin crew, have called a new strike at the airline that will last for five months, between August 8^th  and January 7th 2023, with 24 hours a day strikes every week from Monday to Thursday. It is a decision supported by the workers, who are still asking for better working conditions.

“Given that Ryanair has not shown the slightest attempt to approach the unions, but, on the contrary, has publicly stated its refusal to enter into any dialogue with the representatives chosen by its crew members, USO and Sitcpla have been forced to continue with the strike and call new days, listening to the workers”, said today’s statement from the unions.

The demands of the previous days of strike are maintained, affirm the union spokesmen: the application of the statutory minimums of the Spanish legislation in working conditions (i.e. hours, contracts and wages), and union matters to all cabin crew who provide their services on Ryanair aircraft and in its 10 bases in Spain.

“What the crew are asking for, translates into the application of basic labour rights in Spain, which cannot be subject to negotiation, such as 22 working days of annual vacation; 14 legally established holidays; compliance with the PRL law; granting of legal guardianship rights, specification and reduction of working hours; the payment of salary levels prior to the pandemic, as the National High Court (AN) already ruled in its sentence; end of the hiring of workers through the illegal assignment of workers, also condemned by the AN and respect for the legitimate exercise of the right to strike by workers”.

Secondly, they are demanding the immediate reinstatement of the 11 workers who were dismissed during the previous strikes in June and July, for exercising their constitutional right to strike.

Most of the flights affected during these strike days are internally in Spain, although the ‘knock-on’ effect has led to delays for international flights, including some to and from the UK.