Charlie Smith
RYANAIR workers in Spain have called for several walkouts in early January after failing to secure better pay and conditions.
Staff of the budget airline have accused their employer of ‘absurd and childish behaviour’ and ‘throwing tantrums’ because a deal was not reached.
The unions Sitcpla and USO who represent staff gave the Dublin-based operator until 3:00pm on December 21 to respond, but they did not get a response, according to a Daily Mail report.
At least three strikes are on the table, but the unions say Ryanair still has time to ‘abide by Spanish legislation’ in terms of work contracts.
Those calling for industrial action allege that approximately 1,800 Ryanair staff in Spain ‘suffer’ due to their working conditions.
Spain’s government also came under fire for allegedly ‘failing to tell Ryanair that it has to comply with the law in the country where it operates’, the Daily Mail also reported.
It comes as Madrid airport staff are also planning New Year walkouts over claims that security officers have not been given adequate protection from the cold weather.
More than 190 flights were cancelled in late September this year, as cabin crew refused to work in the last major strike by Ryanair staff.
These planned New Year strikes cap off a year of negative publicity for the cost-cutting travel operator.
In February of this year Ryanair forced a British grandmother to cough up hundreds after her hand luggage was deemed too large.
Then in early March the airline doubled its cost of reserving standard seats from £2 to £4.
Meanwhile July saw 300 Ryanair flights cancelled across Europe, due to staff walkouts.
A few months later, two of the airline’s planes came ‘dangerously close’ and narrowly avoided colliding over Spain.
Six Ryanair staff at Malaga airport were then given their marching orders last month, as they ‘staged’ a photo that appeared to show them forced to sleep on the floor.
