I am seriously worried that some posters are so gullible as to regurgitate the 'at least unpaid leave is better than no job' propaganda. The unpaid leave is not there to bail out a failing company and save your job from extinction - it is a typically opportunistic move by a ruthless management taking advantage of timid, ill-informed employees. This company will thrive in these times (notwithstanding O'Leary's abysmal hedging record). Ryanair will need all its current pilots and more for its continued expansion.
I speak as someone who has for a number of years tried to assist in the process of union recognition within Ryanair and have now given up because of the prevalence of halfwits within the company who are unable to recognise when they are getting shafted.