Ryanair pilots ‘had to drop claims’ for promotion

A SENIOR Ryanair manager has admitted the airline required pilots to confirm they had no outstanding industrial relations claims against the firm before they could be considered for promotion.

Peter Bellew, Ryanair’s general manager of flight operations, yesterday accepted that Ryanair made it a condition that its Dublin pilots could not be retrained on new Boeing aircraft unless all claims against the airline were dropped.

He told an Employment Appeals Tribunal he inserted such a clause in a bond which pilots had to sign to be considered for retraining.

The tribunal is hearing a claim for constructive dismissal by former pilot, Joe Peard, 39, after he felt forced to resign in June 2007 after “a systematic and ongoing campaign of harassment” against him over a number of years.

Mr Peard claims he unsuccessfully sought clarification over a 16-month period from Ryanair whether his claims against the airline would impact on his chances of being considered for promotion. The tribunal heard that Mr Bellew responded to three requests from Mr Peard for clarification with the same formulaic letter.

Mr Bellew initially rejected the suggestion that it was Ryanair “policy” not to consider people for promotion who had claims against the company. However, under cross-examination by Michael Landers, a representative of the pilots’ union, IALPA, he eventually conceded that the clause had such an effect.

Mr Bellew was also criticised by the chairperson, Niamh O’Carroll-Kelly for being “intentionally evasive” in responding to questions about the purpose of the bond.

Ms O’Carroll-Kelly said Ryanair’s consideration of Mr Peard for promotion was conditional on his signing the bond “no matter what way you dress it up”.

Mr Bellew admitted he was unaware of any impediment to Mr Peard being selected for promotion to captain as he had “a pretty much unblemished record”.

The pilot claims Ryanair denied him promotion, manipulated the roster to reduce his salary as well as deliberately underpaying him. Mr Bellew said Mr Peard was paid 6% above the average pay of Dublin pilots between 2003 and 2007.

The hearing was adjourned to a date in June.