A FORMER Ryanair pilot has claimed he was subjected to "unreasonable behaviour" by the airline and that he was forced to resign when he realised his career prospects with the company had "ground to a halt".
Joe Peard, a Dublin man now living in Dubai, told the Employment Appeals Tribunal that he was constructively dismissed by Ryanair. He worked with the airline for more than four years before handing in his notice on June 29th of last year.
Mr Peard said he was denied promotion, his roster was manipulated to reduce his pay, and that he was deliberately underpaid. Ryanair disputes the claims.
His representative, Michael Landers of the Impact trade union, believes his client is entitled to the maximum two years' salary the tribunal may award in compensation. Mr Peard was earning a basic salary of €42,000 and €30,000 in sector pay.
Mr Landers said his client has been forced to return to the "bottom rung of the ladder" with his new employer, Emirates Airlines, and that it could take him some five years to recover the progress he should have made.
Mr Peard told the tribunal that he qualified as a pilot, was offered a job by Ryanair and remortgaged his family home so he could complete training to fly a Boeing 737 at a cost of £17,000 (€26,633), before starting full employment in November of 2002.
He said he was told promotion prospects were good and that he could expect to be promoted to captain within three years. He also said he was warned that Ryanair did not look kindly on individuals who challenged its authority.
Mr Peard said unhappy differences began to arise in the company in 2004, when the terms and conditions for pilots began "eroding". He said pilots were told they would have to pay for medicals, they would no longer be provided with food and water while working, and that the company no longer intended to provide loss of licence insurance to them.
A number of pilots made claims of victimisation to the Labour Relations Commission, which Mr Peard believes hindered his progress in the company.
Mr Peard said he first encountered Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary at a meeting of pilots and senior company staff, which came following the commencement of the action. He claimed Mr O'Leary launched a foul-mouthed "diatribe" against pilots and warned them not to become involved with unions. In early 2006 he had the required flying experience to be promoted to captain and that he received a number of favourable flight assessments from senior pilots.
He applied for a promotion and said he understood he was eligible, but not entitled to the upgrade. He later heard 82 pilots had progressed to the level of captain and said he then became "worried" about his prospects and sought clarification of his position.
He applied and was overlooked for a number of promotions later in 2006 and he was frequently asked if he had any claims against the airline when applying, which he said shocked him as he thought he would still be entitled to pursue his claim and be promoted.
Mr Peard said he felt his eligibility for promotion had become "irrelevant" and that he could not get a straight answer from management as to whether or not the claim, which he may have been willing to drop, was hindering his progress to the rank of captain.
The appeal continues today.
