Former Ryanair pilot claims he was sacked for union recruitment drive
22.03.11
A former Ryanair pilot is taking a case for unfair dismissal to an employment tribunal today, alleging he was sacked for handing out a union recruitment leaflet. Captain James Anderson, 45, who had worked for the airline from 2001 until he was sacked in 2009 for allegedly distributing trade union literature and membership forms to cabin crew during a flight.
He is being backed by the pilots union the British Airline Pilots Association. The union's general secretary Jim McAuslan said: ‘BALPA is proud to be supporting James Anderson in his case. The union believes that he should never have been dismissed in these circumstances.’
Ryanair has always refused to negotiate with unions, and an attempt by British-based pilots to gain recognition for BALPA failed a few months before Mr Anderson was dismissed in 2009. Ryanair is arguing that he put passengers’ safety at risk by handing out leaflets when he should have been working.
BALPA says that the aircraft was on automatic pilot, with a co-pilot at the controls and that in these circumstances staff are usually free to eat, drink and talk to cabin crew.
Ryanair said: ‘We have no problem with pilots distributing leaflets on their own time, but not during a flight, when they should be attending to the aircraft, going through their checklists and prioritising the safety of Ryanair’s aircraft, and not the membership of failed BA trade unions.’
'This case is just another PR stunt by BALPA, who frequently claim that Ryanair’s pilots have no free time when flying, yet now they believe that when the plane is on 'auto pilot', it is acceptable for the Captain to be distributing union leaflets and membership forms to cabin crew.'The case will be heard at the east London employment tribunal from today until the end of the week.
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