And somehow the powers to be just turn a blind eye to all of it.
Kelly H it is not my desire to attack you, but I do want to "attack" the underlying premise of your post and the bit I quoted above.
There is just something about pilots which makes them utter innocents when it comes to looking after their interests. It is to be found in post after post on a range of discussion here on PPRUNE. Sometimes it is hidden in pro or anti union posts, or behind those who declare themselves "realists".
What I am referring to? I refer to the notion that there is anyone, other than pilots themselves, available to sort things out. There is NO "powers" off stage able or willing to come in, like the cavalry, to help.
The actual "powers that be" will say - "if there is something wrong that has anything to do with us, put it in writing". If that is not about safety or regulation they will declare it "off limits" and suggest a legal remedy. Only an idividual pilot, or association can then act. If a pilots' association is to act it needs members - and even more, it needs members who are willing to act themselves or to support legal or other action.
Pilots show a remarkable inability to get this. It is not exclusive to any particular group of pilots or to any country. It just comes with the pilot package: confident, opinionated, innocent to the point of naivete and easily "seen off" when they are not part of an established and well run pilots association.
Everything Ryanair is doing it has
repeatedly done before. And we still see people who sound off without even having done the slightest bit of research about the well established realities of the own current employer. So what if some outsiders get it wrong .... if those inside cannot work out the "bleedin obvious" why expect anyone else to do so?
Nobody will help Ryanair pilots until they show some backbone. Thay have not earned such support and do not deserve it. Even if their treatment is deplorable and on occasions outrageous.