SPAIN'S government may take disciplinary action against Ryanair for 'breaching employees' right to strike' based upon the airline's response to the cabin-crew shut-down on September 25 and 26.
According to the Spanish ministry of work and pensions, Ryanair sent emails and made phone calls to its cabin crew asking them to confirm whether they would be joining the strikes and demanding they continue to push sales on flights, which goes against the ministry of public works' 'minimum service during strike' requirements.
Also, the ministry claims Ryanair designated more shift workers for duties on September 28, during the third strike day, than it would in a normal week, meaning the strike's impact was minimal, which effectively prevents industrial action from working properly and defeating the object – procedures which are considered to counter staff's right to go on strike at all.
For that day's industrial action, workers drafted in on shifts to cover their striking colleagues were not given the requisite notice before their hours were changed.
The company 'hindered inspectors' checks' in connection with the strike, 'especially concerning taking statements from cabin crew and analysing working conditions and risk-prevention paperwork', according to the department of work inspectors, part of the ministry of work and pensions.
Negotiations between Ryanair and cabin-crew unions have continually stalled and further strikes are expected over Christmas, New Year and the Epiphany or Three Kings' celebrations.
