O’Leary defends Ryanair’s employment record

Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary defended himself and his company robustly in heated exchanges in Brussels yesterday, hosted by Cork MEP Deirdre Clune.

The meeting took place in the European Parliament in Brussels between Mr O’Leary and MEPs from both the transport and employment committees in the European Parliament.

The Irishman faced claims Ryanair treats its staff unfairly. However, Mr O’Learysaid Ryanair has a 30-year unblemished safety record. Captains at the airline earn up to €160,000, first officers earn up to €75,000, and the maximum amount earned by cabin crew is €35,000.

He also addressed claims that the airline forces staff to buy their uniform, and said Ryanair gives cabin crew €400 a year for uniforms.

He pointed out Ryanair is hiring and creating up to 1,000 jobs a year when other airlines are cutting jobs, and hit out at the accusation that pilots are on “bogus” self-employment contracts so as to avoid social insurance and permanent contracts.

At the meeting, Danish MEPs criticised Mr O’Leary for his failure to engage with unions in the country, but he responded by saying Danish law has bankrupt every Danish airline, and described the actions of the unions in Copenhagen as “crazy”.

Ms Clune said the exchange was “frank and forthright”. “Many of the MEPs present raised concerns in relation to Ryanair’s employment practices but Michael O’Leary answered all questions and engaged with MEPs in an honest and open way,” she said.