Ryanair strike: Hundreds of flights at risk of disruption as cabin crew walk out

Portuguese union accuses airline of ‘total lack of respect’

Ryanair crew in Portugal are planning to strike (Ryanair)

Ryanair cabin crew in Portugal are planning five days of strikes in August, potentially wrecking thousands of passengers’ summer holiday plans.

Portuguese cabin crew union SNPVAC announced the potential industrial action on Wednesday, although exact dates have yet to be confirmed.

In a statement shared on Facebook by the group “Ryanair Must Change”, the union accuses the airline of a “total lack of respect for national legislation” and says the decision to strike is due to the company’s refusal to comply with the protocol signed between Ryanair and SNPVAC last November.

Among the demands that were agreed by the airline and union in 2018 are a mandatory 22 days of annual leave for all cabin crew, plus the switching of those employed by Ryanair for more than two years through employment agencies onto permanent contracts, with no loss of salary or seniority.

SNPVAC also claims the Portuguese government is complicit in not enforcing local labour laws and allowing Ryanair to operate unchecked.

“Ryanair cabin crew cannot accept that the Portuguese law continues to be ignored with the collusion of the Portuguese government,” continues the statement.

“Facing the intransigence from Ryanair and the lack of interest of the Portuguese government on guaranteeing the fundamental labour rights to their citizens that work for Ryanair, the cabin crew had no other choice but to return to the industrial conflict until their labour rights are fully complied with by the Irish airline.”

The union says the length of the walkout means possible dates are still being discussed, with the aim being not to penalise Portuguese communities across Europe with the cancellations.

“Our fight is against Ryanair, not its passengers,” said SNPVAC.

The move comes as Ryanair pilots in Ireland and the UK also hold ballots on possible industrial action in August.

Europe’s biggest airline suffered a number of coordinated strikes by cabin crew and pilots last year, leading to hundreds of flight cancellations.

Ryanair has not responded to The Independent’s request for comment.