Ryanair pilots who are members of the British Airline Pilots’ Association (Balpa) have voted to accept a pay increase of up to 20%.
The pay rise, which will be paid next week as part of January’s payroll, will apply for pilots working at all of Ryanair’s 15 UK bases, including London Stansted.
Ryanair pilots working in Ireland from the organisation’s Cork and Shannon bases have already voted to accept the pay increase. Dublin-based pilots have yet to vote on the pay offer, but Ryanair has requested they do so before 17 January so that the increases can be applied for January wages.
Alongside pay negotiations, Ryanair is also in discussion with Balpa regarding trade union recognition for collective bargaining purposes.
A spokesperson at Ryanair said: “Ryanair […] confirmed that all 15 of its UK pilot bases, including London Stansted which had previously rejected an improved pay deal, have now voted in [a] secret ballot to accept pay increases of up to 20%, and these increases will be paid next week in the January payroll. These increases bring Ryanair’s pilot pay in the UK to 20% more than competitor 737 operators.
“Ryanair is continuing its recognition discussions with Balpa […], but had agreed with Balpa that these pay increases should not be delayed by these recognition negotiations, which are proceeding quickly. Ryanair and Balpa agreed to offer these pay increases to the six out of 15 UK bases, including Stansted, which had not previously accepted them.
“Ryanair is continuing to negotiate with [Irish trade union] Forsa and its Ryanair Irish Pilots Council, but these discussions are progressing slowly. Ryanair will continue to communicate with the 35% of the Dublin pilots who have yet to accept this substantial pay increase which, if accepted, can be included in the February payroll and will take them to 20% higher pay than Norwegian [Airlines] 737 pilots in Dublin.”
A spokesperson at Forsa, formerly known as Impact, added: “Fórsa and Ryanair management are in process, with the intention of finalising a formal recognition agreement. We’d like the process to be quicker, but these things take time. The union has said it expects management to reach agreement on recognition procedures quickly so that the parties can move on to negotiate substantial issues around pilots’ pay, working conditions and contractual arrangements.
“[Organisation] management has separately urged its Dublin-based pilots to accept a pay proposal that pre-dates its decision to recognise the union. The union has convened meetings with its members in Ryanair, and Fórsa has told management we will ballot on a no-strings pay package as an interim measure, pending engagement on pay following completion of a recognition agreement. As Fórsa is now recognised by the [organisation] for collective bargaining, pay must be negotiated with the union.”
