The union that called the Ryanair cabin crew strike is to ensure the action goes Europe-wide unless the Irish company adheres to national labour laws for workers based in Portugal."If Ryanair does not change its attitude, the only alternative we have is to work on, is taking the Portuguese example and replicating it with a Europe-wide strike.
"After this current strike, we will sit down at the table with invited European unions where this will be the only issue discussed," said union leader, Fernando Gandra.
The trade union official, at a press conference in Faro, attended by representatives of the counterpart union in Italy, stressed that cabin crews are, "constantly bullied" by the company.
The trade union official, at a press conference in Faro, attended by representatives of the counterpart union in Italy, stressed that cabin crews are, "constantly bullied" by the company.
Convened by the National Union of Civil Aviation Flight Personnel (SNPVAC), the current three day strike which ends on Wednesday 4th April, is to demand that national laws, including those covering sick leave and parental leave, are brought into play.
According to Fernando Gandra, the presence of European union representatives in Portugal, "is also a demonstration that in their countries, these problems are the same and the cabin crews suffer the same working conditions."
The union leader praised the courage of cabin crew members in Portugal who have taken strike action, due to "unequivocal proof of the practice of bullying and permanent harassment" of Ryanair workers.
The union leader added that staff has been threatened with dismissal and disciplinary proceedings. The trade unionist also said that workers who fail to achieve on board sales targets are threatened and intimidated.
The European Association of Cabin Crew (EurECCA) today condemned Ryanair's use of volunteers and foreign cabin crew members during the Portuguese strike.
The secretary-general of EurECCA declared his "full support" for all European crews which are behind the Portuguese strike action.
"All the Ryanair crews, in the nine countries where we are represented, are in solidarity with the Portuguese crew with this strike action," said Christoph Drescher, stressing the need for the Irish carrier to apply national and European legislation.
Passengers flying from Faro, Porto and Lisbon suffered cancellation and delays on Wednesday, the third of three non-consecutive, one day strikes.
The Portuguese union has pointed out that the use by Ryanair of foreign cabin crews to replace striking Portuguese workers, is illegal and that the government is looking into the situation.
Ryanair’s CEO, Michael O’Leary, is to attend the IV National Conference on Residential Tourism and Golf, an initiative promoted by the Portuguese Association of Resorts, to take place at the Estoril Tourism School on Wednesday, April 11th.
O’Leary will address the theme ‘How Ryanair can help the growth of Tourism in Portugal’ and in unlikely to address the theme of 'Why Ryanair fails to include national labour legislation in its employment practices in Portugal.'
The conference will be attended by more than 20 national and international speakers, and throughout the day, the "market situation will be described and the measures that should continue to sustain the rapid growth of national competitiveness will be discussed, "say the organisers, who have the support of the National Council for the Golf Industry.
"The synergies between golf and residential tourism have attracted billions of euros in foreign investment, taxes, service and consumption, and created tens of thousands of jobs. At the National Conference, entrepreneurs from both sectors and public and private institutions are invited to take stock of the initiatives undertaken during the year and planned in the short and medium term, "summarises the press blurb.
The conference program can be found at cntrg.eventbrite.pt.
