The union believes the behavior of the airline Lauda is “morally deeply reprehensible” and offers affected employees legal assistance.

The Vida union was shocked and deeply disappointed in its initial reaction to the procedure in terms of downsizing at Ryanair subsidiary Lauda. On Thursday, the company began to “distribute” dismissals and, of all people, a heavily pregnant employee was among the first to receive the “blue letter”.

“The entire procedure for the current layoffs at Laudamotion shows that the company and the Ryanair Group have not kept their promises to employees to keep all jobs in Vienna if the social partners agree to a new KV agreement. Rather, it has now turned out that some of the Laudamotion employees have been instrumentalized for the interests of the group. Apart from the legally questionable procedure, which allegedly resulted in the termination of dismissal protected pregnant women and employees on parental leave, the dismissal of particularly vulnerable people is also morally reprehensible, "says Daniel Liebhart, Chairman of the Aviation Department of the Vida union.

In administration, employees in entire departments were dismissed, including in the areas of finance, marketing and sales. Even the employees of the press office were separated on Thursday afternoon and released from duty. The company is suing the Korneuburg Regional Court for the consent of at least 25 women who are protected by the Maternity Protection Act to dismiss. The “staff interviews” with 94 summoned flight attendants and pilots did not take place at all. Flanked by securities, the notice of termination was handed out in front of the office.

The Vida union said that legal assistance would be offered to all Lauda workers concerned who come forward. Should the legal department of the ÖGB branch union find out, after examining individual cases, that there have been legal violations, the Vida “also wants to bring legal action at the labor and social court”.