Following a strike ballot, which closed on Wednesday (7 August), pilots union Balpa said 80% of its Ryanair members voted in favour of strike action on a 72% turnout.
The first of two planned walkouts will take place later this month over 22-23 August before a second over 2-4 September.
Balpa said while its pilots had no desire to “spoil” people’s travel plans, Ryanair had refused “for decades” to engage with unions.
Key sticking points include pensions, loss of licence insurance, maternity benefits, allowances and a “fair, transparent and consistent pay structure”.
“We have made no progress with Ryanair management on any of those areas at all, seemingly because Ryanair management cannot understand how to go about working with us constructively, or how to negotiate,” said Balpa in a statement. “Ryanair has made no offer to Balpa in respect of its pilots.”
General secretary Brian Strutton added: “We have had no formal offer from Ryanair. It is imperative we resolve this dispute urgently to avoid strike action. No pilot wants to spoil the public’s travel plans but at the moment it seems we have no choice.”
Ryanair said Balpa’s strike ballot had garnered the support of less than 30% of its UK-based pilots.
“The independent result of Balpa’s ballot shows that less than 50% of Ryanair’s UK pilots are members of Balpa, and of these, just 57% voted in favour of industrial action. This is less than 30% of Ryanair’s UK pilots.
“Balpa have no mandate to disrupt our customers holidays and flights, particularly at a time when UK pilots are facing job losses due to the Boeing Max delivery delays, and the threat of a no-deal Brexit on 31 October.”
The strikes could, theoretically, coincide with potential strikes by British Airways pilots and Heathrow ground staff.
Last month, Balpa’s BA pilot members voted in favour of striking, although the union is yet to announce any strike dates pending the outcome of fresh talks with the airline.
The Unite union, meanwhile, has successfully balloted thousands of members at Heathrow on strike action, including security personnel, firefighters, engineers, passenger service operatives, airside operation controllers, airfield transport officers and environmental officers.
