Ryanair talks with union due to restart today

Sides adjourned late last Friday following four days of discussions last week

Independent mediator Kieran Mulvey and Ryanair chief people officer Edward Wilson in Dublin Airport. Photograph: RollingNews.ie
Independent mediator Kieran Mulvey and Ryanair chief people officer Edward Wilson in Dublin Airport. Photograph: RollingNews.ie

Talks to end the dispute between Ryanair and a group of its Irish pilots are due to restart on Wednesday following their adjournment last weekend.

About 100 of Ryanair’s 350 Irish-based pilots have staged five one-day strikes at the company since the beginning of last month in a dispute over base transfers, promotions, leave and other issues.

Negotiations under independent mediator Kieran Mulvey are scheduled to restart today in Dublin Airport. The sides adjourned late last Friday following four days of discussions last week.

The Irish Airline Pilots’ Association (Ialpa) – part of trade union Fórsa – has pledged not to serve notice of further strikes on the airline while mediation is under way.

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Both sides have also agreed not to comment on the progress of the talks in public.

There was no indication on Tuesday how close they are to resolving the dispute, but hopes were high last week that Mr Mulvey’s involvement would help break a deadlock that has lasted for six weeks.

Ialpa-Fórsa is seeking a transparent system for dealing with the issues in dispute, which are tied to seniority.

Ryanair maintains that it has agreed to nine of the 11 demands originally laid down by the union.

Disputes have also broken out in recent weeks between Ryanair and pilot unions in Belgium, Germany, Holland and Sweden.

Barry O'Halloran

Barry O'Halloran

Barry O’Halloran covers energy, construction, insolvency, and gaming and betting, among other areas