Ryanair pilots offered American Airlines backing, cash in bid to unionise

Ryanair pilots campaigning for unionisation amid a staffing crisis that’s led to the cancellation of 20,000 flights have been offered financial backing from American Airlines Group’s cockpit-crew association. The Allied Pilots Association has offered to support Ryanair crews in forming a union or joining an existing body such as the Irish Air Line Pilots’ Association, according to Daniel Carey, president of the US group, who met with the carrier’s employees last week. The APA is aiming to stem the hiring of staff on unappealing contracts through outsourcing firms. “We’ve been following the Ryanair model and we don’t want indirect employment to come to America,” Carey said, adding that APA is open to pitching in with communication expertise, IT support, additional manpower and financial assistance. <br/>