Ryanair says that a Belgian trade union's claims against it are false and hold 'no truth'.
Belgium's CNE workers' union said today that it planned to take legal action against Ryanair for imposing work conditions on cabin crew that violate Belgian law.
However Ryanair says there is no truth to the union's claims. 'Putting some people hiding behind masks and claiming that they are disgruntled Ryanair employees is a theatrical stunt without truth or credibility,' the airline said in a statement.
Tony Demonte of Belgium's CNE workers' union said the suit would likely be filed in September and that both Ryanair and its partner Crewlink, which provides a large part of the airline's cabin staff, would be targetted.
In response to the union's claims that workers' paychecks are deducted €30 a month for 12 months to pay for uniforms, Ryanair said its employees receive an annual uniform allowance of €325 a year, out of which they pay for their uniforms, regardless of whether they purchase a uniform or not each year.
The Belgian union said the legal complaint would try to compel both Ryanair and Crewlink to adjust their workers' contracts to conform with Belgian law.
Ryanair said that all its cabin crew employees operate on Irish registered aircraft, which under European transport worker regulations are deemed to be governed by Irish contracts and employment Irish law. The airline said its staff receive the full protection of the Irish constitution and the wide range of Ireland's comprehensive labour laws.
In its statement, the airline said a Belgian court in 2007 as well as the courts in Spain, Germany, Italy and Norway have already ruled that these are Irish contracts governed by Irish law. 'Accordingly the provisions of Belgian law do not apply,' the airline stated.
Ryanair said that under Irish law, all the airline's employees receive notice periods.
