Talks chaired by mediator Kieran Mulvey to resolve the dispute between Ryanair and a group of its Irish pilots adjourned without agreement last night.
Ryanair and the Irish Airline Pilots’ Association (Ialpa) – part of the trade union Fórsa – met under Mr Mulvey’s chairmanship in a fresh bid to resolve a dispute that has led to five one-day strikes at the company.
No comment
Negotiations began in Dublin Airport at about 10am yesterday and continued until 8pm. They are likely to resume next week. Neither side gave any indication of the progress that had been made as both parties agreed not to make any public comment while mediation was under way.
Mr Mulvey’s involvement in the dispute sparked hopes a deal between the sides could be brokered, ending uncertainty for travellers hit by five stoppages in July and early this month.
Ialpa-Fórsa said earlier this week that it would suspend notice of further strikes while mediation was under way. The talks began this week and ran for three days before adjourning without a resolution early on Thursday morning.
About 100 of Ryanair’s 350 Irish-based pilots have been in dispute with the airline over base transfers, promotions, leave and other issues tied to seniority.
Mr Mulvey stepped in this week as independent mediator following a proposal from Ryanair that Ialpa-Fórsa accepted.
Flight cancellations
Two meetings between the sides in the dispute's early stages failed to make significant progress towards a resolution. Ryanair endured simultaneous strikes in the Republic, Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands and Sweden last week, forcing the cancellation of 396 of 2,4000 flights.
None of the other four pilot unions have ruled out further industrial action,but had not indicated yesterday if they intended striking in the near future.
