'The likes of Ryanair and many others stick two fingers up at these laws and get away with it. Why?'
Kelly - atse has already given you the answer. The individual is powerless (unless of independent means and can afford a protracted period off work to fight the case) to pursue breaches of law (various) that, as you rightly say, are widespread throughout the industry.
The only answer is collective action through union representation. The best terms and conditions exist in airlines where unionisation has been established over a long period and, most importantly, where the corresponding management know that they HAVE to talk to the union before any changes are made.
Leaving current losses aside (short term in the current squeeze) just look at the T&Cs at the likes of Air France, Lufthansa and BA and then look at the declining T&Cs at esay and O'Leary's mob.
There is this irrational fear amongst pilots that 'oh, if we go on strike the airline and our jobs are doomed'. It is that irrationality that the airline managements rely upon because they know that, unlike themselves, pilots in the main are jolly decent types who live their working lives by 'toeing the line'. Once the bottom line is affected the management will come running to the table.
But the bottom line for the pilots concerned is that they must act as one and that can only be through a union. Those that have the right to union representation through national law and do not exercise that right are doing themselves and colleagues elsewhere who are not afforded that protection a great disservice.