SIPTU complains over Ryanair ‘bullyboy’ tactics

THE country’s largest union has complained to the advertising watchdog about “bullyboy” advertising by Ryanair’s chief executive, Michael O’Leary.

The advertisements, which ran in national newspapers last Monday, accused SIPTU of “Saying No to competition” in the taxi, airline, bus and airport markets.

SIPTU said it was referring the “misleading” ads to the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA).

“This is not the first time that Ryanair has engaged in dubious advertising practices. Michael O’Leary, the head of Ryanair, sees us as the main obstacle to his plans for a second terminal at Dublin airport, which we feel would destroy the airport by creating competing services,” SIPTU general president Des Geraghty said.

Ryanair claims that a second terminal at Dublin Airport would lower flight prices, improve services and create an extra 5,000 jobs. Its attack on SIPTU is the latest in a series of controversial adverts on the Dublin Airport terminal issue.

The company has already criticised Taoiseach Bertie Ahern for dithering over the decision and in 2001 it portrayed former minister Mary O’Rourke in the bath, accusing her of procrastination.

“There’s the declining value of Ryanair shares and the fact that Michael O’Leary has been selling his own shares. That would make you wonder. He is using bullyboy tactics to get his way and he is attempting to browbeat the Government. He thinks he is running the country,” Mr Geraghty said.

This prompted an incredulous response from Michael O’Leary.

“SIPTU don’t like the ads because they’re true. And what Des Geraghty knows about the share price of Ryanair would be zero,” he said.

Mr O’Leary said that a second terminal at Dublin Airport would provide more jobs rather than resulting in job losses.

“The record of SIPTU is always anti-consumer, they have opposed deregulation in the air transport industry, the telecoms industry and the taxi industry. But it has worked. Des is like the old union dinosaur, jobs for the boys and screw the consumer,” he said.

The Ryanair chief executive then challenged Mr Geraghty to a debate. “If Des Geraghty wants to have a debate on monopolies or protectionism, just name the time, date and place. We’ll be there, he won’t. He’ll duck because Des doesn’t want a debate where he’ll be challenged.”

The ASA said it would be considering SIPTU’s complaint.