Strike by Ryanair pilots at height of the holiday season is slammed as ‘callous’ and ‘unfair’ by Transport Secretary Grant Shapps
- Transport Secretary Grant Shapps called Ryanair strike ‘callous’ and ‘unfair’
- Pilots on £180,000 are set to strike for five days in dispute over pay and benefits
- Walkout scheduled by union Balpa which is also planning British Airways strike
- Strike is set for August 22 and 23 followed by three-day walkout from Sep 2-4
A strike by Ryanair pilots was condemned as ‘callous’ and ‘unfair’ by Transport Secretary Grant Shapps last night.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps pictured outside Downing Street.Mr Shapps condemned the Ryanair strike by pilots calling it ‘callous’ and ‘unfair’
Pilots earning up to £180,000 are set to strike for five days in a dispute over pay and benefits – even though fewer than three in ten Ryanair pilots back industrial action.
The first walkout is scheduled for August 22 and August 23, followed by a three-day strike from September 2-4.
They have been orchestrated by the union Balpa, which is also planning a strike at BA. Mr Shapps said: ‘Ryanair flies thousands of British passengers every day. It is vital the airline and the pilots come to a resolution.’
Balpa has refused to say how many Ryanair pilots it represents. But Ryanair, which is planning to cut the number of its pilots, says just 350 – or 28 per cent of those it employs in the UK – backed the strike, and 44 per cent of Balpa’s members either voted against a walkout or did not vote at all.
Brian Strutton, of Balpa, said: ‘No pilot wants to spoil the public’s travel plans, but at the moment it seems we have no choice.’
Ryanair pilots earning up to £180,000 are expected to strike for five days in a dispute over pay and benefits (file image)