The German trade union Vida raises serious allegations against Ryanair, Lauda and Malta Air. According to the representations of the employees, the group is currently trying to undermine existing collective agreements, to lay off employees in order to then “reinstate them on dumping conditions”.

According to Verdi, Ryanair is primarily represented in Germany by its subsidiary Malta Air. This operates numerous Boeing 737-800s, which are stationed in the Federal Republic, on behalf of the Irish. It is flown within the framework of wet lease agreements under FR flight numbers. Only on the route between Vienna and Dortmund there is currently the AL code from Malta Air. This route has been officially marketed as the "Lauda route" so far.

“This is an attack on the achievements that the employees have fought for with great courage and international solidarity. We will not accept that a company with liquid funds of 4 billion euros demands that its employees give up their income and that they run the risk of reaching the poverty line. The company wants to cut around 1.200 jobs and cut the salaries of existing staff by 10 percent in the cabin and 20 percent in the cockpit - and generally by 20 percent for newly hired staff - over a period of five years. There should also no longer be unlimited employment contracts. All of this shows how disrespectful the company is to long-term employees and their families. “We demand full transparency and a genuine and honest dialogue, the safeguarding of employment and the maintenance of current salaries,” said Susana Pereira-Ventura, union secretary for the low-cost carriers in the Verdi federal administration.

The employee representatives are also directing criticism in the direction of the EU Commission, because it would look the other way: across Europe, governments would be helping their carriers with aid packages worth billions, but social standards are being dismantled at the same time. Verdi also assumes that "the predatory competition and price wars would be immeasurably promoted by such methods".

There are currently no "paycuts" at Lauda, ​​but the company has its back to the wall due to the rejected short-time work. As AviationNetOnline reported, the May salaries are in acute danger. The cessation of operations in Düsseldorf and Stuttgart is no longer excluded. Verdi also looks at the events in Vienna with great concern.