Ryanair yesterday reacted to a new trade union campaign about its conditions of employment by claiming its staff were better paid than those in other airlines.
It was responding to an announcement by the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) of a new website for Ryanair staff to air their grievances.
The site, www.ryan-be-fair.org, is to be launched today and is described by the ITF as "a new campaign tool for an old problem".
The federation's representative in Ireland, Mr Tony Ayton, claimed yesterday that some Ryanair workers were afraid to speak about workplace problems.
"As far as we're concerned, that stops now," he said.
The website would give Ryanair staff the freedom to discuss issues with their colleagues, "free from unwanted oversight". They could request updates and be put in touch with trade unions in their home countries. Members of the public could also access the site and sign appeals for fairness, Mr Ayton said. He accused the Ryanair chief executive, Mr Michael O'Leary, of being "famously hostile" to the trade unions.
"If Michael O'Leary won't allow a forum where Ryanair workers can freely make up their own minds, then the ITF will - even if the decision is to tell us to get lost.
In response, the airline issued a short statement with the heading: "Ryanair's staff are better paid than ITF members."
The statement comprised a table with the "average salaries" of employees in six airlines, with Ryanair at the top on €50,582.
This was followed by Easyjet (€41,384), Lufthansa (€41,377), Aer Lingus (€38,929), British Airways (€37,602) and Virgin Express (€34,386). Employees of the other five airlines were ITF members, it said. The statement provided no information on the number of hours worked by staff in the various airlines.
