The Cologne Labour Court has Malta Air, a subsidiary of Ryanair, was temporarily released from the obligation to provide the necessary documents for a works council election at the Cologne site. The union announced this Verdi The emergency decision is a setback for the employees who have been campaigning for the establishment of a works council at this site for two and a half years.
The union is now focusing on the main hearing, which is scheduled to take place in September. Malta Air had refused to provide the nominated election committee with lists of employees. However, such lists are essential for determining active and passive voting rights, i.e., who is entitled to vote and who can stand for election. Furthermore, the company has threatened the election committee with damages claims should it attempt to conduct the election under these circumstances.
Verdi sharply criticizes Malta Air's actions, describing them as systematic obstruction of works council elections, which has been observed at various Ryanair locations in Germany and Europe. This raises questions about compliance with the German Works Constitution Act, which regulates employees' rights to co-determination. Unions repeatedly emphasize the need for a timely application of these laws to ensure employee rights in companies with complex international structures.
The case underscores the ongoing tensions between Ryanair and unions regarding employee representation. Ryanair is known for its strict stance toward unions and works councils, which has led to numerous labor disputes in various European countries in the past. The dispute in Cologne is one of a series of similar legal disputes concerning the establishment or operation of employee representative bodies. The outcome of the main hearing in September is eagerly awaited, as it could set a precedent for similar cases.