The High Court in Dublin has approved an application by Ryanair to stop a proposed Ireland-based pilot strike on Thursday and Friday this week.
Around 180 pilots represented by the union, Forsa, were set to take industrial action from 22-23 August after voting to back a 48-hour strike in a long-running dispute over pay, working conditions and related issues.
The court reportedly said it would restrain Forsa “from directly or indirectly, organising, directing or endorsing their members to participate in a strike on 22nd and 23rd of August 2019″.
The pilots are members of the Irish Airline Pilots’ Association (IALPA).
Forsa said last week that IALPA had submitted a 30-page proposal to Ryanair management in March of this year, which sought pay levels and structures it says are in line with sector norms. The IALPA claim also included proposals on pensions, working conditions and related matters.
The union said IALPA is seeking pay levels it believes are common and competitive in the commercial airline sector, from a company that made a substantial profit of €1 billion last year.
Despite the win in Ireland, Ryanair also faces strikes across Europe, as pilots are set to strike in the UK, Belgium, Spain and Portugal over the Bank Holiday weekend and also over the next few weeks.
In the UK, the British Airline Pilots Association (BALPA) said that the strike is a dispute over working conditions. On 7 August, the union confirmed that the pilots will be striking.
Strikes are set to be held from 00.01am on 22 August until 11.59pm on 23 August and from 00.01am on 2 September until 11.59pm on 4 September.
Ryanair is seeking a High Court injunction today to stop strike action by UK Ryanair pilots, raising legal technicalities.
BALPA has said that because Ryanair has wasted time with unnecessary court action, their chance to resolve the dispute involving their pilots has been lost.
BALPA had invited Ryanair to join them at talks this week but said the airline refused.
