The Cockpit pilot union has accused the low-cost carrier Ryanair of purposefully combating unionization efforts. In a statement released on Friday, the union noted that if the Berlin base closes on Saturday, pilots stationed there would be forced to relocate abroad, potentially leaving their families behind or having to completely change their career paths.
The union questioned whether the closure was solely due to economic reasons, suggesting instead that Ryanair may be attempting to weaken employee representation. Cockpit pointed out that Berlin was the only German works council located within Ryanair’s operational network. The pilots highlighted the alarming timeline: the closure was reportedly announced in April, just two weeks after the works council had achieved a success before the Federal Labor Court.
Cockpit further alleged that union representatives have been personally pressured during the collective bargaining negotiations, which have been ongoing since April. Furthermore, the union claims that three out of the original six members of the wage negotiation commission have received termination notices in a short period.
According to Andreas Pinheiro, president of Cockpit, these signs confirm that Ryanair is executing a targeted strategy to undermine union structures and intimidate employees by weakening works council and collective bargaining representation. He stated, “When an airline closes a location that housed its sole German works council, while simultaneously pressuring members of the negotiation commission with dismissals, union structures are being deliberately weakened and employees are being intimidated.”
The Cockpit union finds the dismissals of active negotiating members particularly worrisome; two of the pilots involved have already left the company, and a legal dispute over dismissal is still ongoing regarding a third employee.
