MEP accuses Ryanair of abusing rights of its workers

Dublin Labour MEP, Ms Bernie Malone has described Ryanair's dealings with its striking baggage-handlers as an abuse of their human rights as EU citizens. In Strasbourg last night she said: "It is deeply ironic that Ryanair, which has benefited enormously from the economic principles set out in EU treaties, for example the commitment to air liberalisation, is doing its damndest to infringe corresponding social principles, such as the right of low-paid workers to be professionally represented in wage negotiations."

Ms Malone, who is vice-president of the European Parliament's Social Affairs Committee, added that the Amsterdam Treaty states that the EU is founded on "respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms".

Speaking before a debate on the parliament's annual report on human rights in the EU, Ms Malone pointed out that the report condemns "the numerous violations of trade union freedom and the rights of trade union delegates in many member-states and demands that these violations should cease and that trade union freedom be recognised as a fundamental right in all memberstates."

She pointed out that this report was drafted before the Ryanair dispute began, adding: "It could have been written solely with Ryanair management in mind."

She said her colleagues in the parliament were "utterly baffled about the Ryanair dispute." They could not understand that Irish workers are on strike simply because they want to join a trade union.

Ryanair, she said, could not adopt a pick-and-choose attitude to Europe. EU membership had provided economic opportunities which Ryanair had been able to exploit. But it also involved social responsibilities and obligations which must be met.

"Pay-back time has arrived for Ryanair management. Their workers must be able to join a union," she said.

Speaking on a report on the management of tourism policy in the EU, the Leinster Fianna Fail MEP, Mr Jim Fitzsimons, said last night that a single European currency would brighten the future for Irish tourism. It would bring increased numbers of visitors because of the elimination of currency transaction costs. This, in turn, would create more jobs.