It was the First day of strike at Charleroi airport , one can see the quiet check-in counters there, Ryanair pilots in Belgium are on strike today and tomorrow, and that's costing Ryanair the cancellation of 120 flights so far.
As per News agency Belga, A few days ago, the unions ACV Puls and CNE, and the pilots' union Beca, issued an ultimatum to Ryanair management on working conditions, but no agreement was reached.
Ryanair had conveyed its pilots in Belgium that it wanted to cancel a collective agreement on working hours and rest. According to the pilots' representatives, this is illegal.
Wages are also under discussion. At the start of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, the pilots agreed to a 20 per cent pay cut, which is still in force. According to the unions, management refuses to discuss ending this gesture "despite the return of huge profits".
"There is nothing to negotiate about. The law has to be respected," says Didier Lebbe of the CNE union. "I wonder why, in a constitutional state, we allow a multinational like Ryanair to flout the law. It's not even about negotiating new advantages."
Several meetings held between pilots' representatives and Ryanair failed to resolve the dispute, meaning 80% of Ryanair pilots based at Charleroi airport went on strike.
In total 120 flights from and to Charleroi airport have been cancelled, of which 62 were scheduled for Saturday and 58 for Sunday.
