Ryanair staff have reached a tipping point. If strikes create one for passengers the airline has a problem

Ryanair seems to have reached a tipping point with the people that work for it.

Earlier this week, pilots at the Dublin base of the “world’s favourite airline” announced plans to strike on July 12.

Now it’s the turn of cabin and ground crew, with workers in Italy announcing plans to walk out on July 25 and those from Belgium, Portugal and Spain saying they’re going to do the same on July 25 and July 26.

It follows the inaugural Ryanair Cabin Crew Summit in Dublin, which led to the publication of the Ryanair Crew Charter, outlining their demands on issues ranging from the economic conditions they work under, to safety and rostering, to the company’s workplace culture, and more besides.

History was made in December when the company announced it would recognise unions for the first time.

It was an important concession on the part of the airline, and there was at least a chance that it might pave the way to a better working relationship between management and staff.

Unfortuantely, cynics who said ‘yeah, right’ at the time, have been proven correct.

It seems that Michael O’Leary, the airline’s combative CEO, just can’t help himself.

I’m told that since then, unions have been left frustrated by the airline’s stance, which they say amounts to it saying ‘here’s what you’re going to get now go away quietly’ rather than it negotiating in good faith.

The International Transport Workers Federation, an umbrella body that assists unions representing the company’s workers in a number of countries, has spoken of the’ “frustration” at the lack of progress since the willingness to recognise unions was announced.

It says only a couple of recognition agreements have been signed and there have been no concrete improvements in pay and working conditions.

Crew have promised more disruption throughout the summer if the airline refuses to address their demands. With Ryanair dismissing them as “pointless”, and claiming they enjoy good working conditions, they might have to hunker down for a long struggle.

In their favour is the fact that the airline’s reputation took a nasty knock last year when it had to cancel thousands of flights as a result of a lack of pilots.

Its passengers have proven to be remarkably resilient. They’ve kept flying with the company despite that, and the litany of complaints it has drawn over the years.

But they too may have a tipping point. If the unions stick to their guns, and the company continues to cut off its nose to spite its face, they may reach it. That would affect Ryanair’s bottom line and tweak the noses of shareholders, some of whom are already discomforted by the way it does things.