Former pilot takes claim to court

A FORMER Ryanair pilot claims he was repeatedly passed over for promotion because he was among a group of pilots who had taken an industrial relations claim against the airline before the courts.

Joe Peard, 39, now based in Dubai with Emirates Airlines, is taking a case of constructive dismissal against Ryanair after resigning in June 2007 over what was “a systematic and ongoing campaign of harassment” against him over a number of years.

The Employment Appeals Tribunal in Dublin heard that Ryanair had also deliberately manipulated his roster to reduce his pay as well as underpaying him.

Michael Landers of the Mandate union said Mr Peard was among a group of pilots in dispute with Ryanair over the terms of a retraining programme on new Boeing aircraft.

Pilots took an industrial relations case after being informed that Ryanair would seek reimbursement of the €15,000 cost of the retraining if the company was ever forced to recognise a trade union for collective bargaining.

In evidence Mr Peard, said he had been assessed on five different occasions as being suitable for promotion to captain.

However, he had repeatedly been asked by Ryanair to confirm that he no longer had claims against the airline.

The pilot said Ryanair had repeatedly failed to respond to his request for clarification on whether his ongoing claim was affecting his chance of becoming a captain.

However, Mr Peard said it had become clear that it had become an impediment to his promotion. He pointed out that colleagues who had withdrawn similar claims had subsequently been made captain.

Mr Peard also expressed shock at the attitude of senior Ryanair executives in their dealings with staff.

He recalled a meeting with chief executive Michael O’Leary at which the airline boss remarked: “If you want a f**king war, put on your hard hats and I’ll give you a war.”

The hearing continues.