Ryanair pilots balloted by the Irish Air Line Pilots' Association (IALPA) have voted overwhelmingly to back strike action in their dispute over terms and conditions. Irish-based Ryanair pilots plan a one-day strike on Thursday, July 12th, in a dispute over seniority. The airline agreed to recognise trade unions for the first time last December in order to avert strikes during the Christmas period. However, pilots are disappointed over the slow pace of talks.

Meanwhile the living wage has been increased by 20c to €11.90 an hour by the living wage technical group. The living wage is a recommended wage, for what the authors of the report said, was an acceptable standard of living.The increase is largely due to a hike in housing costs. The report found that if housing costs had not risen to such a degree, the living wage rate would not have increased as the food, clothing, health insurance and transport costs all fell in 2018.  The Examiner reports however, that restaurant owners are critical of the increase, and are unhappy with recommendations that the living wage should be increased to keep up with rising costs.

In other news Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has come under pressure to clarify his comments on the media after he told a private lunch in New York that he sympathised with Donald Trump’s views on the press. The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) has called on the Taoiseach to explain the comments . Speaking on RTE's Morning Ireland, NUJ General Secretary Seamus Dooley said it was "bizarre" that Mr Varadkar would appear to align himself with the US President.

To mark the 4th of July , our zen today is a little bit of Bruce.