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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
National
Bonnie Christian

Ryanair strike update: Pilots to stage fresh round of walkouts in late September, union says

UK-based Ryanair pilots are preparing strike action in September. (Picture: REUTERS)

Ryanair pilots are to stage a fresh round of strikes in a dispute over a range of issues including pay, pensions and maternity benefits.

Members of the British Airline Pilots Association (Balpa) have already taken strike action on August 22 and 23 as well as the first part of this week.

The union announced a 48-hour walkout on September 18-19 and 24-hour stoppages on September 21, 23, 25, 27 and 29.

Balpa accused the company of refusing to take part in talks at the conciliation service Acas.

General secretary Brian Strutton said: "We are clear that we want to settle the dispute and bring about a change in Ryanair for the better.

"Pilots in Ryanair are seeking the same kind of policies and agreements that exist in other airlines, our demands are not unreasonable.

"We want to address issues like pensions, loss of licence insurance, maternity benefits, allowances and harmonise pay across the UK in a fair, transparent, and consistent structure.

"While this action has considerably disrupted Ryanair, forcing them to engage contractors and bring in foreign crews to run its operation, it has had limited impact on the public's travel plans.

"Ryanair should stop dragging its feet and get back to the negotiating table."

A Ryanair spokesman said: "These latest strikes are pointless given that during five days of strikes (August 22-23 and September 2-4) all Ryanair flights to and from UK airports operated as scheduled - with zero cancellations - thanks to the efforts of over 95% of our UK pilots who flew as rostered and did not support these failed Balpa strikes.

"We again call on Balpa to return to talks as these failed strikes have not achieved anything."

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