Ryanair pilots’ strike in Belgium averted

Ryanair pilots based in Belgium are cancelling their plans to strike during the busy holiday travel season after making a breakthrough in negotiations with management.

A large majority of the pilots approved a pre-agreement from the budget airline, according to CNE permanent secretary Didier Lebbe.

The social conflict between Ryanair and its staff has dragged on for some time, with workers complaining of low pay and an increased workload.

A final meeting between Ryanair management and staff representatives was held at the end of November in the presence of a mediator.

Without revealing its contents, the CNE union indicated that it had reached “a maximum” in terms of negotiating and had a new plan to submit for the pilots’ approval via a vote.

The agreement runs until 2027 and provides for regular increases in pilots’ fixed salaries to make up for the money lost during the pay cuts decided at the height of the pandemic.

There will also be an increase of around 10% in the variable part of the salary.