Ryanair has asked all of its Dublin-based pilots to drop their victimisation claims against the airline and to accept its terms in relation to their training on its new Boeing aircraft. The pilots have been called to attend meetings on Monday and Tuesday.
Almost all of Ryanair's pilots are claiming to have been victimised by the airline. They have lodged more than 200 claims of victimisation with the Labour Relations Commission (LRC).
This week Ryanair secured leave from the High Court to challenge a decision by Rights Commissioner Tony Bregazzi on the matter.
In the latest letter sent to the pilots, Ryanair's director of flight and ground operations, David O'Brien, outlines a series of conditions. Many of these conditions have been rejected by the pilots in the past.
Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary said yesterday the pilots were being offered the conditions that were accepted by John Goss, the pilot who reached a settlement with the airline and has returned to work.
Mr O'Leary said if the pilots reject this offer, a fresh one will be made in September containing the same terms and conditions but will not guarantee that they will be based in Dublin.
Ryanair has again told the pilots that their training will cost €15,000 for each pilot but that it is prepared to defer the payment of that sum for five years unless the pilot leaves the airline before then. The airline is also stipulating that the pilots will have to pay the €15,000 training cost if the airline was forced to negotiate with a pilots association or trade union within that time period.
The airline is also asking the pilots who agree to accept its terms to confirm to Ryanair that they have no claims against the company under the Industrial Relations Act 2004. It also wants the pilots to agree that any claims that have been made or which have been made on their behalf before the Labour Court or the Labour Relations Commission are withdrawn.
Mr O'Brien points out that if the pilots decline Ryanair's offer they may face redundancy in the future when the current Boeing 737-200 fleet is phased out. Ryanair will tell the pilots that this offer will lapse before the end of next week.
