O'Leary going to Jail?

[captplaystation]

If any Line Capt (or maybe even LTC /TRE!)can earn 100K EURO after tax on a European permanent contract I'll eat my hat, sorry forgot I don't have one!Actually it might be possible but paying your tax in your country of residence(if yours is "sympathetic"tax-wise to our profession)but no way paying in the "emerald isle";and then of course you need a second residence so all the lovely lolly gets spent?!Current rumours are that we need to recruit 10 pilots per week over the next 5 years to implement the master plan;Thanks in no small way to PPPuNe there ain't 2500 informatically challenged pilots out there so the chicken is finally coming home to roost;time to start talking the same language you guys in the "white-house"(sh**e- house/jail?)before you have a line up of shiny metal to rival Mojave desert,even with these soopah-doopah winglets you still need two w*nk*rs up front, so sorry Mikey!

[BEagle]

Further evidence of Ryanair's union bashing stance from yesterday's edition of Ireland's Business World:

"Ryanair pays staff 3pc, not pilots

Tuesday, May 17 13:09:12

(BizWorld)

Irish low-cost airline, Ryanair, today said it had paid a 3pc increase to all staff who had negotiated directly with the company but not pilots.

The carrier is currently embroiled in a dispute with pilots with one pilot attempting to have the airline's chief executive, Michael O'Leary jailed for alleged contempt of court.
Last week, leave was given by Justice Barry White yesterday to lawyers for pilot John Goss to bring an application tomorrow for the attachment and committal of O'Leary, Ryanair director of flight and ground operations, David O'Brien and the airline's chief pilot, Ray Conway.


Today, Ryanair said the door was still open for the pilots to forego union representation and negotiate directly with management."

[Miles Hi]

Hot off the presses

From the Irish independent website.

High Court delays ruling on request to jail Ryanair boss



12:04 Wednesday May 18th 2005



The High Court has delayed its ruling on an application by Ryanair pilot John Goss to have the airline's chief executive jailed for contempt.
Mr Goss has claimed Mr O'Leary and two members of his management team have breached a court order requiring the airline to lift his suspension from duties.

The airline has insisted it is maintaining the suspension for safety reasons because of the strain of an impending court action Mr Goss is due to take against Ryanair later this month.

The court was expected to issue judgement on the matter today, but instead decided to delay the ruling until tomorrow.

[One Step Beyond]

From the Irish Indo:

Ryanair says that its average salary is €49,992 while the average salary of Easyjet was €46,901; of Lufthansa was €41,912 and British Airways was €41,423 based on the last available annual reports.

Hmm, considering BA's starting salary is about £42k and EZY's FO salary is about £36k, this seems to be a rather creative exchange rate.

[Chippie Chappie]

Ah.. but you're not counting the cabin crew and cleaners....

[FlyingV]

Back to work tomorrow for Mr Goss. But MOL not quite out of the woods yet.

http://www.rte.ie/news/2005/0518/ryanair.html

[One Step Beyond]

Chippie Chappie, fair point. On the other hand, BA cc earn, as has been discussed ad nauseam, relatively large salaries. And I find it hard to imagine FR are generous enough with cleaners, engineers, ground staff etc to explain such odd figures.
No matter how you look at it, and considering the weak value of the euro to sterling, these figures look totally inexplicable.

[GGV]

Inexplicable - a good word. Anybody who has seen previous Ryanair use of statistics could hardly be surprised. Whether it be airport charges, comparative salaries, their profits, or anything else, Ryanair are totally self-serving in their use of numbers (and of the English language).

They are also utterly deadly in their abuse of anything and everything that stands between the truth and what they want the story to be. There is nothing new here. Claims about "superiour" pilot pay in Ryanair are made repeatedly and they want, positively want, a public debate about pilot salaries.

Their comparative table should be treated with the derision it deserves.

[Dylsexlic]

It seems to me that MOL is just an unsophisticated, parochial bare-knuckle fighter where the only rules are that there are no rules; and the only reality is MOL's reality.

On that basis, why does anyone ever complain? It will never change. You pay your money and take your choice. If folk don't like the "Ryanair way", then don't go near 'em.

You're either in the "Alba" market, or the "Sony" market. They both do the job but arguably Sony do it with more style.

Ryanair do it with a poke in the eye and frankly, there are people out there who actually like that.

But isn't it really because of my first point that many want to see MOL get a bloody nose?

[Shamrock 602]

A little more detail from The Irish Independent of Thursday 19 May:


Grounded pilot airborne again but O'Leary ruling delayed

Grounded Ryanair pilot Captain John Goss had been re-rostered by the airline and is back flying, the High Court heard yesterday [Wed 18 May]

Mr Justice Barry White was also due to have given his decision yesterday on an application by Mr Goss to jail Ryanair chief executive, Michael O'Leary, and two other company executives, for alleged contempt of court but said he would not now do so until Wednesday next, May 25.

Mr Goss is also seeking an order for the sequestration of Ryanair's assets.

Hugh Mohan, counsel for Captain Goss, argued the airline bosses had failed to reinstate him with the company to flying duties in blatant breach of two previous High Court orders.

Mr Mohan said Captain Goss had undergone and passed final medical and psychiatric examinations and, as earlier, had been passed completely fit to fly.

Mr Goss would be on flying duties that day (Wednesday) or today. Richard Nesbitt, counsel for Ryanair, said the issue in the case had always been one of flight safety.

The airline's chief pilot, Captain Conway, was now happy Captain Goss could fly. Judge White said he would give his decision on the jailing of the Ryanair executives next Wednesday.

Shamrock 602

[BillHicksRules]

Shamrock,

Has the judge given any idea as to why the continued delay in making a decision?

I am wondering if he is giving MOL and FR chance to make amends before he dumps them in the pokey.

He can now say to Capt Goss, "well you are back on flight status and that is what you wanted". It then makes Goss look to be a troublemaker if he takes it further.

I am not saying that Goss is, I am just showing how it may play out in court.

Cheers

BHR

[Shagtastic]

Wishfull thinking on my part but I am looking forward to some of our newer members of the pilot community growing a spine and saying 'F..... OFF!' when asked to pay for a Ryanair approved 737-800 rating.

The shortage of pilots will become an amusing reality at last.

We'll all benefit.

Ciao
Shaggy

[Aloue]

BillHicksRules, the judgment on the Contempt of Court issue was delayed because the judge was not ready and at least one supplementary document was submitted to the court on Wednesday last. The press reports also make it clear the judgment is due on Wednesday next. The contempt, if it is found to have taken place, is not removed by virtue of Captain Goss going back flying, but rather the contempt will simply have ceased on the day he went back flying. In other words, the contempt issue cannot go away and there must be a finding by the judge.

Also, there is still another Contempt of Court issue still to be heard in the High Court. Here again the fact that the contempt will have stopped when the trial takes place is not the issue. The issue will be: was there contempt, and for how long did it last? This saga has still got legs and we can expect it to take us into June.

[BBT]

John Goss flew for Ryanair on Thursday evening and will fly again today (Friday). That says all that needs to be said. Congratulations to Captain Goss and family.

[the grim repa]

well done john goss,a man,a shining example to all.

[Gorgophone]

"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good people to do nothing." Edmund Burke 1729-1797

Well done 'good person' John Goss in 2005

[Shamrock 602]

Hi BillHicksRules,

I think Aloue answers some of the questions you raised... the fact that further documents were lodged on the day the ruling was due seems to be significant. It was also reported that the court was told that Capt Goss underwent further tests in the Netherlands since the earlier hearing last week to assess concentration, and had passed.

I'm actually relying on various press reports, but court reporting does tend to follow a rather dry and factual approach. (That's partly because reporters can be hauled before the judge for contempt if they sensationalise, or report only one side.)

With Capt Goss's return to flying duties, it seems the contempt would have ended. That makes a prison sentence less likely, but a fine is still an option. We'll know next Wednesday.

And the main case is due to open on May 31st. The events of the last few weeks can not have done Ryanair any good in that regard. When there's a result in the substantive case, that may of course be appealed to the Supreme Court.

Below is a piece from The Irish Times on the various legal challenges mounted by and against Ryanair in the Irish courts. (Have to paste the whole thing as it's subscription only.)

Reference to the Labour Court, by the way, is to a statutory industrial relations tribunal. A small minority of employers have also chosen not to attend its proceedings.

This thread has life in it yet...

Shamrock 602

Ryanair set to have long, hot summer in the courts
by Siobhán Creaton Finance Correspondent

The Irish Times, Friday 20th May 2005


Ryanair is becoming a fixture at the High Court. This week Michael O'Leary was in court 15 sitting close to Capt John Goss, one of the airline's eight most senior Dublin-based pilots who was seeking to have him jailed for contempt of court. Goss is also seeking an order for the seizure of Ryanair's assets.

Mr O'Leary will have to don his smart shirt and blazer again on Wednesday to hear Mr Justice Barry White's decision on the matter and for the many more court appearances scheduled over the coming weeks and months.

Justice White closely observed Mr O'Leary during recent appearances. At the end of one hearing he said: "I have observed Mr O'Leary chewing on a biro from time to time. Is that indicative of stress on the part of Mr O'Leary or lack of respect for this court?" he asked. Ryanair's counsel, was quick to assure him that O'Leary "understands absolutely" the court's importance. " is entirely understanding or your lordship's powers and is fully respectful of the court."

One source amongst the airline's pilots quipped that given the raft of cases pending that involve the airline, the High Court is rapidly becoming Ryanair's industrial relations department. "They are using the courts as an instrument of corporate policy" he suggested.

Its a costly business and is a time consuming exercise for O'Leary and his top executives charged with running one of the world's most profitable airlines.

The Goss case is one of a series of courtroom battles in a bitter row between Europe's biggest low-fares airline and its 100 Dublin-based pilots.

Goss was suspended in April after he was accused of being involved in the intimidation of pilots. He sought and obtained an injunction against Ryanair and on April 27th a judge ordered that he should be returned to flying.

Leaving the court that day, O'Leary told journalists he expected Goss would be back in the cockpit as soon as possible. But this didn't happen. Ryanair explained that Goss hadn't been rostered for duty on safety grounds and that he was suspended on full pay until a court hearing scheduled for May 31st and any subsequent disciplinary process was concluded.

Goss returned to the High Court this week claiming Mr O'Leary, David O'Brien, head of flight and ground operations, and chief pilot Ray Conway, by their actions were failing to obey the court orders. Yesterday Ryanair explained to the Judge that Goss was now on the roster and would be flying.

In his dispute with his employer Goss is alleging that Ryanair is conducting a campaign of bullying and harassment against him because he is seeking to use normal industrial relations procedures in his dealings with the airline, and to have his concerns represented by the Irish Airline Pilots Association.

Separately Goss and some of his colleagues have made 170 claims of victimisation to the Labour Relations Commission, many of which are multiple complaints. Ryanair's eight senior pilots, including Goss, were the first group to take this action last November on foot of a dispute over their right to training on Ryanair's new Boeing 737-800 fleet of aircraft and their contracts and rights where redundancies are sought.

Other claims subsequently followed, including fresh complaints in the past week, with Ryanair's decision to withhold a 3 per cent pay increase for the pilots while awarding it to the rest of its staff. The airline said the pay rise was awarded to staff who negotiated directly with the company adding that the pilots had chosen not to.

Under the terms of the new Industrial Relations (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, each pilot could be awarded compensation of up to €260,000, equal to two years pay. It has been suggested that a further 70 such complaints may still be filed.

The first of these claims is due to come before a rights commissioner in mid-June when Ryanair and Ialpa will be invited to discuss it.

Ialpa has taken a claim on behalf of the Ryanair pilots to the Labour Court seeking to obtain a copy of their contracts of employment, the terms for their switching to the new aircraft and an agreement on redundancy terms. Ryanair argued that the Labour Court was not entitled to hear this claim but lost and is now taking a judicial review.

Ryanair has staunchly defended its right to stop the Labour Court from interfering in the running of its business. It claims these tussles are all about the pilots wanting Ialpa to represent them in their negotiations with Ryanair and about the carrier being forced to recognise trade unions.

All of Ryanair's Dublin-based pilots are members of Ialpa and the airline's pilots across Europe have formed their own association, the Ryanair European Pilots Association (Repa). They claim this battle is not about union recognition but is about clarifying and protecting their terms of employment and working conditions.

Yet another legal action is due at the end of June. This time Ryanair is claiming that the Repa website is being used to intimidate its pilots. The airline is seeking to discover the identities of some of the site's contributors it claims have been intimidating other Ryanair pilots.

O'Leary can be assured there will be plenty of journalists and cameras around in case he is carted off to jail on Wednesday. The man who views all publicity as good publicity seems set to keep making the headlines as the court battles continue.

© The Irish Times

[Flying Mech]

The Vultures are circling for O Learys scalp which they truly deserve.If FR looses these court cases as they probably and hopefully will they & their beancounters will realize that the "Low Cost" option would have been to pay the crews the T & C that they wanted in the first place. I hear that FR are going through Lawyers as often as most of us change socks so sooner rather than later theywill have fallen out with all the availible Lawyers to represent them which again will not do them any favours. I am suprised that the FR Board don't bin O Leary,Conway & O Brien as they are or have already become"high Cost" employees by their managment style of battling all the dirty laundry in the Courts.The only people making money as usual in these situations are the Lawyers.. I wonder what theAmerican shareholders who have Millions of Dollars invested in this Co make of all this?If they start to walk away & the share price goes south the FR 3 mentioned above will be binned quicker than you can wink.

[bentover]

Shamrock, the labour courts descision is binding since november of last year.

[MarkD]

chewing on a biro? If this is what concerns this judge no wonder he's taking so long getting the judgement finalised. cop on!