Fórsa has said it will not ballot Ryanair pilots on a company-imposed pay package, after its members in the airline unanimously said it would be unacceptable to put the proposal to a vote in its present form. The pilots were consulted in a series of general meetings.

 

The union has since written to the airline to say that its pilots have rejected management calls for a ballot because the package was not negotiated with Fórsa and, in its present form, would rule out further pay discussions with the union.

 

Fórsa says this undermines the company’s offer to recognise the union for collective bargaining in the airline. The union is also concerned that the proposed package, and subsequent correspondence, confirms management’s intention to retain a company-controlled system of pilot representation in parallel with union talks.

 

Fórsa says it will reconsider putting a package to ballot if it receives written assurances that the union is the “sole and exclusive representative body for collective bargaining purposes including pay, terms and conditions” for Ryanair pilots employed in Ireland.

 

It also wants assurances that acceptance of the package would not preclude pay talks with Fórsa or the backdating of any pay awards on foot of those negotiations.