Ryanair requires flight attendants to pay back their salary increases

After a legal dispute, Ryanair asked some flight attendants to pay back salary increases in Spain.

The airline and the Spanish Confederacion Sindical de Comisiones Obreras union (CCOO) had agreed to a pay increase that would apply to all flight attendants regardless of their union affiliation.

In March, however, the Union Sindical Obrera won a case at the Spanish High Court, objecting to the agreement, on the basis that those present were not authorized.

USO claimed its representatives “legally could not sign such an agreement”, and the deal has been nullified.

Ryanair wrote to USO and said that it would inform its members of the amount they will be required to pay, which is equivalent to five monthly’s worth of compensation, or EUR3,000. Between October 2024 to March 2025, attendants were paid higher salaries.

Ryanair’s spokesperson said: “USO is complaining about pay reductions that resulted from their court case. Ryanair has agreed to the court order that USO filed in order to reduce pay during its appeal.

“USO is a tiny, minority union that does not have the support of our crew. The vast majority has their pay and conditions protected through an agreement with CCOO.”

Ryanair told flight attendants that it is willing to offer an installment plan for 12 months, with deductions beginning in June’s pay slip.

A spokesperson for the USO accused Ryanair “of union-based discrimination”.

Ryanair responded to the union by writing: “If it is your wish to take legal action against us because we complied with the decision of the court that you won, this is entirely up to you.”

Personnel Today has HR jobs in Aviation.

Browse HR Jobs in the Aviation Sector