Ryanair staff complain of "shocking" conditions

Workers at leading airline Ryanair have complained about low pay, long hours and having to pay for water during flights, a new report claimed today.

A union website set up to deal with complaints has received more than half a million hits from 51,000 people in the past few months, including comments described as “genuinely shocking”.

David Cockcroft, general secretary of the International Transport Workers’ Federation, said: “They paint a picture of sheer misery, where some people are charged for their every basic need and then dare not speak out about the bullying and overwork in case they lose their jobs.”

Members of the cabin crew said some were working up to eight days in a row and 12 hour shifts without a break.

“Prisoners are treated better,” said one.

Other workers complained about poor training, fatigue, low pay and bullying.

In response, Ryanair's director of personnel, Eddie Wilson, this afternoon said: "The latest ITF media release is nothing but an empty vessel making more noise. Ryanair people are better paid than ITF members.

“The ITF internet site has no credibility. There is no evidence of any Ryanair employee participation on it.

“In the four months since it was launched ITF claim this site has recorded just half a million hits. In the same period Ryanair’s own website has recorded over four billion hits.

“The ITF website, like its press release, is an irrelevance to Ryanair and our highly paid workers.”