Ryanair unions lobby investors to end ‘bullying’ business model

Labour unions are lobbying shareholders at strike-ravaged Ryanair to pressure the airline into abandoning a business model they say is based on browbeating staff to keep down costs. Other discount carriers manage to turn a profit while maintaining a healthy working environment, the Belgian, Portuguese, Spanish and Italian unions said in a letter to investors Thursday, adding that Ryanair has been insincere in its pledge to hold meaningful talks. Ryanair uses “bullying as a management tool,” punishing people for being sick, sending intimidating letters to those exercising their right to strike, and threatening to cut jobs in countries where crews are protesting, according to the letter, which labelled the carrier’s approach to business “obsolete. <br/>Ryanair said that the claims are false and made by smaller unions that it doesn’t recognise. <br/>