Ryanair News
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News Release
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02.06.08
Ryanair to Sue French Union for Unlawful Strike in Carcassonne
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Ryanair, Europe=E2=80=99s leading low fares airline, today (Monday, 2nd
Jun=
e 2008)=20
announced that it has filed legal proceedings for damages against
French=20
trade union, Confederation General de Travail (CGT). These proceedings=20
arise from losses suffered during last weekend=E2=80=99s unlawful strikes
(=
Saturday=20
24th to Monday 26th May) by members of the union employed in check-in,=20
security and fuelling duties at Carcassonne Air****t. One such instance=20
involved the decision by a fueller to go on strike as a Ryanair
aircraft=20
was on approach to the air****t, necessitating the diversion of the
aircraft=
=20
to Perpignan and consequently that aircraft and two subsequent flights
were=
=20
unable to trans****t the return passengers. These damages arise from=20
compensation claims filed by passengers whose flights were delayed or=20
cancelled as a result of this unlawful strike and further costs suffered
by=
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Ryanair in flying empty aircraft back to London, Dublin and Charleroi.
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Confirming these proceedings, Ryanair=E2=80=99s Deputy CEO, Michael
Cawley,=
said:
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=E2=80=9CThe action by the striking workers at Carcassonne Air****t was
unla=
wful,=20
unwarranted and caused considerable hard****p for our passengers as well
as=
=20
significant costs for them and for the airline. The fueller in
Carcassonne=
=20
walked off the job just as a Ryanair aircraft was on approach to landing
at=
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the air****t. This type of anarchy highlights the flagrant disregard which=
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the union=E2=80=99s members have for the travelling public in Carcassonne.
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Prior to=20
Ryanair arriving at Carcassonne Air****t seven years ago there were no=20
passengers at air****t. Consequently, there was no employment for many
of=20
these union members who now mistakenly believe that they can simply
walk=20
off the job with no notice and thereby strand hundreds of passengers at
the=
=20
air****t.
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=E2=80=9CRyanair and its passengers are not prepared to suffer the costs
of=
these=20
unlawful and unwarranted actions. The European Union claims that
airlines=
=20
can recover costs for these unlawful disruptions and it=E2=80=99s about
tim=
e that=20
this law was tested. We do not wish to deprive individuals of their right=
=20
to strike. However, if they wish to go on strike then they should give=20
airlines and passengers sufficient notice to allow for alternative plans
to=
=20
be made. We do not believe that it is fair, reasonable or lawful that=20
air****t employees simply walk off the job and endanger the safety of=20
passengers and aircraft as they are coming in to land at Carcassonne.=20
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=E2=80=9CWe are this week filing papers in a lawsuit against CGT, the
trade=
union=20
to which the strikers belong seeking damages and an undertaking that
future=
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strikes will take place only after adequate notice has been given to=20
airlines and passengers at Carcassonne=E2=80=9D.
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