Ryanair low-cost airline said on Tuesday it could cut jobs for German pilots and cabin crew as they are preparing to hold a new strike this week.
LONDON (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 11th September, 2018) Ryanair low-cost airline said on Tuesday it could cut jobs for German pilots and cabin crew as they are preparing to hold a new strike this week.
On Monday, German pilots' union Vereinigung Cockpit (VC) called a 24-hour strike on Wednesday in an ongoing row with the carrier over pay and working conditions.
"These threatened strikes can only damage Ryanair's business in Germany, and if they continue, will lead to base cuts and job cuts for both German pilots and cabin crew, particularly at some secondary German bases, which are loss making during the winter season," Ryanair Chief Marketing Officer Kenny Jacobs said in a statement.
He argued that the strike was "unnecessary" as Ryanair had already agreed to negotiate local German contracts as well as to raise basic pay for German pilots.
"The strike called by the VC Union can only damage Ryanair's business and jobs in Germany at a time when the VC Union has already presided over the bankruptcy of Air Berlin last year, and has agreed to pilot pay deals in Eurowings [fully owned subsidiary of the Lufthansa Group], which pay 30% less than Ryanair's pilot pay rates," Jacobs underlined.
Ryanair, one of Europe's largest carriers, suffered multiple crew strikes this summer, being forced to cancel hundreds of flights across Europe. In late August, the company managed to reach a labor deal with Irish pilots with hopes to end a wider dispute at the company.
However, on September 7, unions representing cabin crew in Portugal, Belgium, Spain, the Netherlands and Italy threatened to strike later this month unless Ryanair agreed to improve working conditions.
