Low-cost carrier Ryanair threatens to suspend its flights

Following the airport’s security officers’ strike on 15–17 June 2007, Ryanair cancelled all its flights using Brussels South-Charleroi airport as of 12 November 2007. The airline calls on the Walloon government to prevent strikes from blocking all airport activities. This demand, trade unions say, undermines the airport workers’ right to strike. Although the social partners reached agreement, the provision of minimum public services during strike action was once again raised.

Reasons for strike action

Over the weekend of 15–17 June 2007, which coincided with the first holiday departures, two Belgian airports, Brussels South-Charleroi and Liège-Bierset, were closed due to a wildcat strike by the security officers of both airports. In total, the strike led to the cancellation of flights affecting more than 22,500 passengers.

The anger of the security officers was caused by the decision of the Transport Minister of the southern Walloon region, André Antoine, to transfer the management of the security services from the Walloon Ministry of Housing, Transport and Development (Ministère du Logement, des Transports et du Développement territorial) to the private, although subsidised, airport management companies. The aim of such a transfer is to make the airport security services more efficient and less expensive.

According to the two trade unions representing the security officers – the National Federation of White-collar Workers (Centrale Nationale des Employés/Landelijke Bedienden Centrale, CNE/LBC) and the General Confederation of Public Services (Centrale Générale des Services Publics/Algemene Centrale der Openbare Diensten, CGSP/ACOD) – this decision is equivalent to a privatisation of the security services. ‘If airports could entirely manage the security activities, they will prefer to employ agents from private companies’, explained a delegate from GCSP/ACOD.

The unofficial strike resulted in severe losses for all of the airlines using Wallonia’s two airports. However, Ireland’s low-cost carrier, Ryanair, was particularly severely hit by the wildcat strike as the airline accounts for most of the air traffic at the Brussels South-Charleroi airport.

Ryanair’s threat to withdraw services

In reprisal, Ryanair announced in August 2007 its decision to cancel all its flights into and out of Brussels South-Charleroi airport with a departure date beyond 12 November 2007, unless the Walloon regional government could guarantee the airline that no strike will ever lead to the closure of the airports again. In addition, Ryanair claimed €1 million in compensation for the company’s losses due to the security officers’ strike action.

Staff at the Brussels South-Charleroi airport and in particular the security officers did not understand the company’s decision, since Brussels South-Charleroi is one of Ryanair’s most important hubs, with more than 23 routes originating from there. However, while Charleroi airport is not essential for Ryanair, the Irish airline is vital for the airport as it accounts for 95% of the air traffic. In the case of the airline withdrawing its services from the airport, this would severely impact on employment in the region.

Social dialogue prioritised in conflict situations

In order to solve the crisis, a delegation consisting of the associate administrator of the airport, the president of the board of directors and an advisor of the transport minister met with the Chief Executive Officer of Ryanair, Michael O’Leary, in Dublin. Finally, an agreement was reached between the parties involved and, at the end of August 2007, Ryanair resumed its reservation services for booking flights into and out of Brussels South-Charleroi airport beyond 12 November 2007. The agreement provides for social dialogue being the main priority for conflict resolution and maintenance of industrial peace at the two Walloon airports. In the event of a strike, any such action should be announced at least 48 hours in advance, so that airlines can arrange for flights to take off from other airports. Furthermore, Ryanair agreed to renounce its compensation claims.

However, CNE/LBC highlights that the agreement is only effective for airport staff employed by the Walloon region, including security officers. The agreement does not cover employees of the airport management company, which is a private enterprise. The trade union ensured that dialogue would be prioritised but it retained the right to organise strikes if necessary.

Establishing minimum services

Once again, the Ryanair case brought up the sensitive question of what constitutes minimum services in the public sector in the case of strike action – an issue that had been hotly debated in the past (BE0705019I). Some deputies had proposed to establish a minimum service in the public transport sector; up to now, however, they have always met strong opposition from the political majority and from the trade unions. The latter fear that the establishment of minimum services could result in an initial threat to workers’ right to strike. Nevertheless, those deputies in favour of the establishment of minimum services believe that customers have the right to have access to public transport, at least in the morning and in the evening, in order to be able to go to school or to work. They argue: ‘We do not deny the right of the workers to strike, but we simply refuse wildcat strikes!’

Commentary

The issue of guaranteeing minimum public services during strike action seems to have become a serious source of conflict in recent years. Many people believe that the parliament should acknowledge its responsibility to find a solution to this problem, which will satisfy both workers and public service customers. Moreover, this issue should be resolved by avoiding any exceptional solutions, such as the agreement covering only public sector workers in the two Walloon airports.

Emmanuelle Perin, Institute for Labour Studies, Catholic University of Leuven