BAGGAGE handlers at Ryanair have again deferred a strike ballot while their union, the ATGWU, seeks clarifications from the airline on its latest pay offer, worth up to 25 per cent for some employees.
The handlers are also being told they will be eligible for pay rises of up to 15 per cent over the next three years as the result of a pay deal being implemented for all of the aidine's employees.
ATGWU official, Mr Ben Carney said yesterday that normally a bay rise of 25 per cent would be overwhelmingly endorsed, but that his members' rates were so low this still left some of them earning less than their counterparts in Servisair. The latter received increases of around 25 per cent in hourly rates last month after threatening strike action.
Throughout the dispute, the company has communicated with its employees directly and has refused to respond to the ATGWU. It is unlikely that it will respond to the union's latest letter and a spokesman said yesterday it would once more be dealing directly employees on this issue.
