Simon Wade
THE Ryanair strike in Spain has been called off, for now.
Ireland’s High Court granted an injunction this morning, preventing their Irish-based pilots from going on strike in the coming weeks.
The judge, Justice Denis McDonald, cited that although Ryanair pilots had a valid case, he wanted more time to assess issues from both sides.
Also, he was mindful that thousands of people would be disrupted with little notice.
The pilots’ parent union (IALPA) has said it will not comment further until a full ruling has been made.
They represent the 180 Dublin-based Ryanair pilots who were recently balloted and decided to strike over pay and conditions, despite several pilots and the union’s own president voting against action.
The Judge questioned the validity of the August 9 ballot itself and criticised a number of remarks by Ryanair about the IALPA.
Nonetheless, he praised both sides for their willingness to return to mediation.
After receiving assurances from the airline that it will continue its action against the Union, the Judge adjourned the matter until September.
Ten days of action were mooted for next month, with flights from 13 Spanish airports being affected.
Trade union officials had little hope that any compromise could be reached, given that Ryanair was unwilling to meet with a ‘negotiating attitude’.
“Over a year’s worth of meetings at official Spanish institutions at which they routinely displayed a mocking attitude does not give us the slightest hope of reaching any kind of understanding,” said Jairo Gonzalo, an official at Spanish union USO
