This type of thing happened in shipping with crew jobs being farmed out to overseas contractors and ships being re-flagged. However, the EU, whilst I don't like a fair percentage of its doings are very driven on employee rights and sooner or later I think they may very well start to tackle the matter. I've no wish to see LCC's stradled with national airline style strikes, but I think its essential their staff whether agency or directly employed are looked after and represented, otherwise they are wide open to exploitation. I also think if Ryanair and any other carrier are to carry on in such a manner they must expect groups like Ryanair Don't Care to make a noise and perhaps damage their image.