Ryanair ordered to pay compensation for violating strike rights in Spain

A court in Málaga has ruled that Ryanair violated the right to strike and trade union freedom of a cabin crew member and USO union representative. The airline was ordered to pay 3,000 euros in compensation.

The ruling found that during strikes in 2022 and 2023, Ryanair modified the employee's work schedule to mitigate the impact of the industrial action. Specifically, the court noted a significant shift in how the worker was assigned to on-call duties. While the employee had previously performed 70 on-call shifts from home and only 5 at the airport over a 17-month period, this ratio changed during the strike period, with the employee being required to perform more shifts at the airport.

The court determined that being on-call at the airport allows the company to mobilize staff more quickly to meet operational needs, thereby undermining the effectiveness of the strike. This decision follows previous rulings by the National Court and the Supreme Court regarding similar practices by Ryanair and its associated entities.