O’Leary backs rival in roster dispute

RYANAIR chief executive Michael O’Leary has forecast that rival Aer Lingus “will be destroyed” if it gives into unions in the rostering dispute.

Usually no friend of Aer Lingus despite its major minority shareholding in the company, the Ryanair boss said for once he was “foursquare” behind the rival airlines’ management and the board “in trying to ensure the defeat of cabin crew union IMPACT”.

The union’s members are refusing to work new rosters introduced by Aer Lingus on January 17 which increase average annual block hours to 850 hours per crew member. The union says its members are willing to increase the hours but not in the way imposed by the airline at that point. Management have taken more than 200 cabin crew off the payroll and has started disciplinary proceedings which could see the relevant staff sacked in a matter of days.