Ryanair has initiated a process requiring certain flight attendants in Spain to repay salary increases of up to €3,000 (£2,525). This demand arises from a legal ruling involving the airline and the Union Sindical Obrera (USO), which successfully contested a pay agreement previously endorsed by another union, CCOO.
Background
A Spanish court deemed the pay rise, which was negotiated with CCOO and applied to all flight attendants irrespective of union affiliation, null and void in March. Following this legal decision, Ryanair has informed USO of its intention to address reimbursement from affected members.
In a statement, Ryanair noted, “USO is complaining about pay cuts that result from their court case.” The airline emphasizes complying with the court ruling while an appeal is ongoing.
Impact and Union Response
Union Sindical Obrera has strongly criticized Ryanair’s actions. They asserted that they are exploring legal avenues to address the repayment demand. The union contends the original pay agreement was invalid because the negotiators lacked the authority to represent USO members. As a result, USO claims they withdrew from negotiations, citing procedural irregularities.
According to USO, the amounts requested from affected flight attendants range between €1,500 and €3,000. They reported that both unionized and non-unionized staff have seen their salaries revert to the levels before the disputed agreement.
Official Statements
A spokesperson for Ryanair refrained from commenting on how many flight attendants are affected or the consequences for those who do not comply with the repayment request. Alternatively, the airline has reached a pay agreement for CCOO members, who will not be required to return the salary increases they received between October and March, notwithstanding the court’s ruling nullifying the agreement.
In correspondence, Ryanair has indicated that affected flight attendants will have repayments deducted from their salaries until the owed amounts are settled. However, USO has pointed out that some members not aligned with the union are not subject to repayment, while all USO delegates have been instructed to return the funds.
Future Developments
In their communication, Ryanair described USO’s continuation of the original agreement’s terms as “farcical.” The airline stated that the member in question is not entitled to the benefits of the agreement with CCOO, leading to what Ryanair identifies as an “overpayment situation.”
Informing a flight attendant associated with USO, Ryanair indicated an alleged overpayment of nearly €3,000. The airline has proposed a repayment plan allowing the attendants to reimburse the sum over a year through deductions from their monthly salaries.
As the situation evolves, Ryanair and Union Sindical Obrera are poised for continued disputes surrounding pay agreements and representational authority, leaving many flight attendants uncertain about their financial obligations.
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