Ryanair’s legal bid makes Britain strike more certain: Union

Bloomberg

Ryanair Holdings Plc’s bid to block a strike by UK pilots rather than return to talks means a walkout before Britain’s busiest weekend for air travel is more certain, according to the union that called the action.
Ryanair has lost the chance to resolve the pay dispute by seeking a High Court injunction at a hearing to be held on Wednesday, the day before the start of the 48-hour strike at airports including the carrier’s biggest hub at London Stansted, the British Airline Pilots’ Association (Balpa) said.
Balpa General Secretary Brian Strutton said the attempt to halt the walkout on what he called a legal technicality after refusing further negotiations is “another demonstration of the bullying tactics the airline appears to favour.”
He also said that Dublin-based Ryanair is continuing to sell tickets for the strike days, which come in the build up to the August 26 bank holiday, and questioned whether Europe’s biggest discount carrier will be prepared to offer compensation to passengers.
Ryanair didn’t immediately respond to an email seeking comment. Chief Executive
Officer Michael O’Leary is grappling with a slew of pay disputes across Europe after being forced to recognise unions two years ago.
Labour relations deteriorated further when he said hundreds of jobs must go and bases close to cope with a possible no-deal Brexit and slower growth after the grounding of Boeing Co’s 737 Max.