Ryanair Pilots’ Elect first Council

On the 18th June 2013 the Ryanair Pilot Group (RPG) elected its first [Interim] Council, taking another very important step in representation for the pilots of Ryanair. Founded by pilots, for pilots in Autumn 2012, the RPG represents more than half of the pilots in the company. The RPG Interim Council is comprised of one current Ryanair Captain and four pilot colleagues from Europe and the United States.

Together with a large and ever expanding group of Ryanair pilots, the Interim Council will work hard to achieve its objectives that include:

Establish professional and meaningful negotiations with management Enhance the communications and support structures within the RPG

Have Ryanair pilots elect fellow Ryanair pilot representatives to fill the RPG Council seats a.s.a.p.

The RPG Interim Council believes in building a strong, mutually beneficial relationship between the pilots of Ryanair and the company management. The Council calls on Ryanair management to respect the wishes of the majority of pilots, and to engage with the RPG in professional and meaningful negotiations.

Ryanair’s CEO recently claimed that Ryanair is the “Southwest of Europe”.

The excellent relations between Southwest Airlines and its employees should be an example for Ryanair to follow. It is an extraordinary situation for a company, which has recently announced a 175 aircraft order with Boeing and a €1 billion return for shareholders, to have over 2,300 pilots employed like mercenaries through hundreds of Irish registered limited companies with no job, financial or social security.

Ryanair management should take this opportunity to follow through on their claims of being the ‘Southwest of Europe’ and emulate Southwest’s policy for engaging with its staff.