What has happened here is obvious. The Captain
was sacked for his union promoting activities (bearing in mind the current tension levels between management and the pilots, this is a
very sensitive issue), however to cover themselves (or try to !), the memo seems to suggest that by taking part in activities such as discussing union membership with cabin crew on the flight deck and issuing them with union membership forms at work, this prevented them or distracted them from carrying out their normal duties in full, and as such had an impact on flight safety, hence the "gross misconduct" charge.
It is unlikely to stand up in court at an unfair dismissal hearing, but the damage has been done, the message sent, and Ryanair will take the view (as they always do) that they will do what they like anyway, and even if they lose and have to shell out a few thousand, the wider impact of their actions will have been felt by the pilot workforce. They would simply regard it as money well spent and financially a drop in the ocean.
So if the cabin crew come into the flight deck during flight with hot drinks etc, and we ask them about what they did the previous night or where they went on holiday, this is presumably "distracting them from their duties" and therefore a hazard to flight safety as well ? ........
Pathetic !!!
