Ryanair Orders Spanish Flight Attendants to Repay Salary Increases After Court

Ryanair has ignited a fresh dispute with its flight attendants in Spain, demanding the repayment of salary increases that had been in effect for several months. This unprecedented move by the Irish low-cost carrier follows a recent court victory that nullified a pay deal previously agreed upon with a different union, the CCOO. The decision has left flight attendants, particularly those affiliated with the rival USO union, facing unexpected deductions from their wages, with some potentially owing thousands of euros.
The heart of the matter lies in a legal battle that saw the USO union challenge a salary agreement Ryanair had struck with the CCOO union. While the CCOO deal provided pay increases across the board for all flight attendants, the USO's successful court case in March nullified this agreement. In response to the court's ruling, Ryanair is now asserting its right to reclaim the salary increments paid between October of last year and March, when the Spanish court delivered its judgment.
The sums being sought by Ryanair from its flight attendants are substantial, with figures reportedly ranging from €1,500 to €3,000 (£2,525). The airline has informed the USO union that it will be notifying its members of the precise amounts they owe, and according to the union, the company intends to simply deduct these amounts directly from employees' payslips until the full debt is repaid. This directive has caused significant distress among the affected staff, many of whom are already paid close to the minimum wage, and now face the prospect of their already modest incomes being further reduced.
Adding another layer of complexity to the situation, the USO union has highlighted an apparent discrepancy in Ryanair's approach. They claim that while all USO delegates have been specifically targeted for repayment, some non-unionized workers who also benefited from the invalidated pay rise are not being forced to return the money. This selective enforcement has fueled accusations of targeting and punitive action against union representatives.
Ryanair, for its part, maintains that it is merely complying with the court's ruling, even though the decision remains under appeal. A spokesperson for the airline stated that the USO is "complaining about pay cuts that result from their court case," effectively placing the onus of the deductions on the union's legal actions. However, the airline has declined to elaborate on how many flight attendants are affected or what measures will be taken if employees are unable or unwilling to repay the demanded sums.
The USO union is actively seeking legal solutions to counter Ryanair's demands, describing the airline's decision to claw back wages as "farcical" given the union's original intent was to challenge the terms, not to have the entire agreement dissolved. This situation underscores Ryanair's long-standing history of robust, often confrontational, industrial relations across Europe. The airline, known for its aggressive cost-cutting measures, frequently finds itself in disputes with its workforce and various labor organizations.
This latest development in Spain serves as a stark reminder of the complexities inherent in managing multinational workforces, particularly when navigating diverse national labor laws and the often-contentious landscape of union relations. As the USO prepares its next legal steps, and flight attendants face imminent pay deductions, the outcome of this dispute will undoubtedly have significant implications for labor rights within Ryanair and potentially for other airlines operating in Europe.
Source@BBC