Ryanair has reached an agreement with Fit Cisl, Anpac and Anpav, i.e. with the three main unions in the aeronautical sector on the cornerstones of the collective agreement. The agreement contains a series of principles on which the long-awaited Ryanair cabin crew contract will be based, which will apply in Italy as early as 1 October 2018.
According to Ryanair's note, the parties agreed that they "are now in the final stages of defining the terms and conditions of the CCL".
But what does this agreement include? The duration of the contract will be three years, from 1 October 2018 to 31 December 2021. The rules contained within it will be subject to Italian law and the Italian courts; Italian cabin crew will be allowed to switch to local contracts within an agreed period.
For Ryanair employees, one of the most interesting aspects is undoubtedly the one concerning the salary. In detail, higher pay is expected under a new pay structure that will see crews benefit from higher tax-free allowances (similar to other Italian airlines). Finally, Ryanair's cabin crew will be able to count on the introduction of the Italian pension system in the overall package.
Despite the positive news of the last few hours, Italy too could be involved in the hardships that will afflict the European skies again on 28 September. In fact, a 28-hour strike by Ryanair flight crew in Italy, Portugal, Spain, Belgium and the Netherlands has been called for Friday 24 September.
The strike was announced on Thursday by the secretary of the union representing Ryanair's flight crew in Belgium, Yves Lambot. Lambot said the strike could be even bigger than the one that canceled more than 600 flights across Europe last July and said Ryanair employees in Germany could also join the strike.
The protest was announced by the Cne trade union, whose permanent secretary, Yves Lambot, explained the reasons behind yet another strike: "After this summer's actions, nothing has changed, nothing has moved: working conditions remain the same. States must oblige Ryanair to respect the law, as they do with other multinational companies. We are also asking the European Commission, with whom we will meet this afternoon at 15.00. We are ready to go on strike one day a month until the situation changes. The movement is getting stronger."
Although in Italy it seems that Ryanair is going exactly in the direction requested by the unions, the unions Uiltrasporti and CGIL have announced their adhesion to the protest.
