Ryanair strike threat remains after first meeting with union

The threat of strike at Ryanair remained on Tuesday following a meeting between the airline's management and pilots' trade union Impact.

The two sides met for initial talks following the airline’s pledge last Friday to recognise unions in a bid to avert industrial action at Irish and European airports.

Following the talks, Impact spokesman Bernard Harbor said that the union was disappointed that Ryanair was unable to give it a piece of paper confirming its commitment to recognising the organisation for collective bargaining purposes.

“The union reiterated its position that its mandate for strike action can be implemented, after the required notice is given, in the absence of a timely agreement,” he said.

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The union has asked the company to provide written confirmation that it will recognise Impact by Thursday.

Impact must give seven days notice if it intends to strike, meaning that industrial action could potentially go ahead in the days following Christmas, if it does not receive the confirmation it is seeking from the airline.

Ryanair's chief people officer Eddie Wilson said after the meeting that the talks were very positive.

He added the union was seeking to fast-track talks on recognition and confirmed that the company was very happy to do this.

“We crossed the Rubicon last Friday and we have to deal with this quickly,” he stressed.