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ARCHIVED - Plane sailing: Ryanair operates full flight schedule in Spain despite strikes
The government in Spain has ensured that the airline provides a ‘minimum’ service throughout the strike action
While travellers were bracing themselves for hundreds of cancellations, or at least significant delays, on the first day of the Ryanair cabin crew strike in Spain, things have gone off without a hitch and the only affected routes have been from Belgium, due to personnel downing tools there.
Ryanair boss Michael O’ Leary promised minimum impact from the work stoppages and it appears that he has been proven right, at least for the time being, as the Ministry of Transport in Spain insisted that striking airlines would have to provide a minimum service at the very least.
The cabin crew strike in Spain has therefore largely gone unnoticed on its first day, although the Syndicated Workers Union (USO) has accused Ryanair of illegal practices by forcing staff to work despite the balloted industrial action. However, the Spanish government has decreed that up to 82% of flights would have to continue as planned, leaving the airline – and cabin crew – with few options other than to comply.
Ryanair CEO Eddie Wilson predicted yesterday there would be no flight cancellations, saying: “We believe stoppages are not going to have a great follow-up and that the impact will be minimal.
“Even if cabin crew are going to go on strike, they have to operate those flights by law.
“If you are a striker and you are put on a protected flight you have to operate that flight. There is also a large number of our people who want to work as normal.”
The union takes a different stance, however, and spokesperson Ester Peyro said Ryanair cabin crew are turning up for work out of fear of being sacked.
The airline “has summoned all its workforce in Spain as minimum services and they have to respect that order because if not they'll be fired the following day,” she said.
“Basically all Ryanair has done is breach the right of workers to strike, workers that after five years of protests and negotiations and industrial action still endure working conditions that do not respect Spanish legislation.”
It is unclear what will happen for the next five days of scheduled strikes, or if the Spanish government will employ the same rules for easyJet, whose cabin crew in Spain plan a staggered month-long work stoppage in July.
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