The High Court will hear an application by Ryanair on Monday aimed at securing an order preventing industrial action by some of its Irish based pilots later this week.
Around 180 pilots who are members of the Irish Air Line Pilots’ Association are due to stop work for 48 hours just after midnight on Thursday in a dispute over pay and conditions.
Last Friday, Ryanair secured permission to bring an application for an injunction against IALPA’s parent union Fórsa stopping the industrial action from proceeding.
The trade union Forsa is contesting the Irish airlines High Court bid for an injunction preventing the airline’s Irish based pilots from going on strike later this week.
Counsel for Ryanair told the High Court that the trade union had not allowed a mediation process to be completed before serving the notice of strike action.
He also said the planned work stoppage was in breach of an agreement reached between the parties last year and was designed to cause “maximum disruption” for customers.
Two weeks ago members of IALPA voted in a ballot to proceed with industrial action after they claimed the airline was stalling the talks process.
A meeting between the sides and mediator Kieran Mulvey last week failed to break the deadlock.
Ryanair is facing industrial unrest on a number of fronts at present, with British based pilots who are members of the British Airline Pilots’ Association also due to strike on the same two days this week and for three days next month.
Members of Ryanair’s Portuguese cabin crew trade union are also set to go on strike for five days from 21 August in a dispute over leave.
Unions representing Ryanair cabin crew in Spain have also announced plans to hold 10 days of strikes in September unless the airline changes its plans to close several bases in the country.
The hearing is expected to last for most of the day.
