The ongoing row between Ryanair and Irish pilots union Forsa has escalated further, this time focusing on claims by Ryanair that an Aer Lingus pilot is ‘interfering’ with negotiations.
Ryanair issued a statement saying the involvement of Aer Lingus pilot, Captain Evan Cullen, has hampered talks, leading to three days of industrial action by Irish pilots and a fourth planned for August 3.
A Ryanair spokesperson said: "Forsa are not in control, because they are deferring to an Aer Lingus pilot on issues that affect Ryanair pilots. It’s time that Forsa removed the interference of this Aer Lingus pilot and got down to serious negotiations on behalf of Ryanair pilots with Ryanair."
But Forsa retaliated with its own statement saying Ryanair’s claim of Aer Lingus ‘interference’ in the negotiations is simply an attempt to divert public attention from the fact that the airline has failed to respond to Frrsa’s offer to attend negotiations.
"Forsa’s negotiating team in talks with Ryanair is made up solely of Ryanair pilots – elected by their peers in the company – and full-time Forsa officials with no links to any airline or any other employer," it said.
It also disputed Ryanair’s claims that it offered to meet for negotiations on Wednesday (July 25).
"In fact it (Ryanair) summoned the union to a ‘briefing’ on its declared intention to sack or compulsorily transfer up to 300 staff from Dublin, in retaliation for its pilots’ industrial action," it said.
