Fórsa and IALPA members in Ryanair have voted to accept a new pay deal which will see salary increases of up to €2,000 a year.

In a ballot on the agreement, 93% of members voted in favour, with an 86% turnout.

Fórsa Assistant General Secretary Ruairí Creaney, who represented the union in the discussions, said the new deal “followed months of negotiations with Ryanair management to improve the existing Collective Labour Agreement (CLA) in light of the rising cost of living.”

The updated agreement increases the basic pay of captains by €2,000 a year, while first officers will receive an increase of €600. In addition, all pilots are set to receive a €1,000 tax-free voucher every year up to 2026.

These pay increases will be paid in addition to other salary hikes over the next four years, already provided for in the 2022 Collective Labour Agreement (CLA).

Mr. Creaney said: “This salary increase is a welcome improvement to pilots’ pay in Ryanair in light of the rising cost of living, and we will be using this deal as a foundation for further improvements to other working conditions.

“The overwhelming vote in favour of the deal is a strong endorsement of Fórsa’s pilot activists who took part in the negotiations. Our members activists have built a strong union in Ryanair, and these pay improvements are a direct result of their organising efforts.”

Mr. Creaney concluded: “The lesson from this is clear; when workers organise and actively participate in their union, they can win.”

Fórsa is currently in negotiations with the company on flight pay, allowances and rostering arrangements. The union will be holding engagements with pilot members to update them on the progress of these discussions soon.

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