Ryanair cabin crew unions threaten major strike in late September

Seven trade unions representing Ryanair cabin crew in 5 countries threatened Friday to hold a strike in late September unless the airline agrees to improve working conditions. The carrier suffered its worst ever strikes this summer, but secured a breakthrough in August when it reached a deal with striking Irish pilots and said it was hopeful it could secure deals in other markets soon. But Friday, unions representing cabin crew in Italy, Portugal, Belgium, Spain and the Netherlands threatened in a joint letter to hold "the biggest strike action the company has ever seen" unless changes are made to their conditions. The unions are demanding local contracts under local law rather than the Irish contracts. The unions said the strike would take place in the last week of September and that a decision would be made by Sept 13. <br/>