Ryanair in the dock in Italy

23 January 2007

Ryanair CEO Michael Ryan’s anti-union tactics have today landed the airline in an Italian labour court which will rule on whether he must recognise and negotiate with the trade union chosen by the airline’s workers there. The case, which begins at 11.00 today, has been brought by Italian union Fit Cisl, and comes just months after France brought in a law to ensure that the air crew of non-French airlines based in the country will be covered by French labour law.

The case will be heard at the Tribunale del Lavoro di Velletri, near Rome, and a judgement is expected in around 30 days.  The union is challenging the airline on the grounds of:

·  Refusal to recognise the Rome Ciampino Cabin Crew Fit Cisl union representatives (Valentina Cattarini, Arianna D'Errico and Gianfranco Coppola)

·  Refusal to make the union deduction (7 Euros per month) from the salaries of workers who have asked to join the union.

·  Refusal to disclose to the Fit Cisl Comparto Volo information why the company needs workers from an agency (CrewLink, Work Force International), why their salary is different from other Ryanair employees, and what are their duties and qualifications – as required by Italian law.

·  Threatening with dismissal or disciplinary procedures all those workers who want to join the limited industrial action of not making inflight sales

·   Refusal to undertake any sort of negotiation with Fit Cisl Comparto Volo, even after the conciliation meeting with the Deputy Italian Work Minister

At present nine Ryanair workers at Rome Ciampino have been fired by company.

Speaking from the Tribunal, Ingo Marowsky, Secretary of the ITF’s Civil Aviation Section, commented: “Whoops, he’s done it again. Michael O’Leary is in trouble once more. Wouldn’t it be simpler to just treat Ryanair workers with a bit of respect and a bit of decency?”

ENDS

For this press release only, if you need more details of what is happening at the Tribunal please contact Ingo Marowsky who is there now, on telephone +44 (0) 7770 0310326, email marowsky_ingo@itf.org.uk

For more information contact ITF press officer, Sam Dawson.
Direct line: + 44 (0)20 7940 9260.
Email: dawson_sam@itf.org.uk

International Transport Workers' Federation - ITF:
HEAD OFFICE
ITF House, 49 - 60 Borough Road, London SE1 1DS
Tel: + 44 (0) 20 7403 2733
Fax: + 44 (0) 20 7375 7871
Email: mail@itf.org.uk
Web: www.itfglobal.org

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