pilots bring ryanair to court

[pressman]

It's all here .

http://www.rte.ie/business/2004/1214/ryanair.html

Ryanair pilots are due to attend the Labour Court this morning. The pilots, represented by the trade union IMPACT, are using new industrial relations legislation to bring the airline to the court.

However, Ryanair has said the legislation was not intended for high pay multi-national companies like the airline.

Ryanair has never recognised unions, arguing that it has adequate internal mechanisms for dealing with staff directly.


However, some of the company's pilots want their union, IMPACT, to represent them in negotiations with the company about what they see as excessively onerous terms in their contract.

They have now used new legislation, the amended Industrial Relations Act 2001, to bring the airline to the Labour Court. The Act allows the court to adjudicate between management and the union where unions are not recognised.

Crucially even if the company does not attend, the Labour Court can issue binding rulings which can then be legally enforced through the Circuit Court.

However, when Ryanair's legal representatives arrive at the Labour Court this morning, it will be to outline the company's objections to the legislation. Ryanair argues that it introduces compulsory trade union recognition by the backdoor and was never intended to apply to high paid multi-nationals like them.

It also warns that if the Labour Court discussions fail, it will challenge the constitutionality of the Act in the High Court.