Portuguese Employees Walk Out as Ryanair Wins Strike Ban in Ireland

Lisbon (dpa) - A Portuguese labour union announced a strike at Ryanair as a court in Ireland approved a request by the Ireland-based budget airline to prevent labour action there.

In Portugal, the union for cabin crew members called a five-day strike starting on Wednesday, Portuguese news agency Lusa reported.

Last year, strikes by Ryanair staff across Europe resulted in the cancellation of hundreds of flights at the height of the summer holiday season in August and September.

The High Court in Dublin ruled on Wednesday in favour of the airline's request to prevent a strike by pilots based in the country on Thursday and Friday.

The presiding judge was quoted by British news agency PA as saying he was preventing pilots' union Forsa "from directly or indirectly, organizing, directing or endorsing their members to participate in a strike on August 22 or 23."

British pilots are also seeking to take part in labour action on Thursday and Friday as well as on a series of dates in September, but face a similar injunction request by Ryanair.

A judge in London is set to hear an application by Ryanair to block the strike by its Britain-based pilots later Wednesday, British news agency PA reported.

Strikes could cause flight cancellations or delays in Europe, the airline said.

For Portugal, Ryanair does not expect any considerable disruptions because the airline has already arranged a minimal flight plan, which is required by the government, Lusa reported.

The SNPVAC union criticized the required minimal service as an attempt by the government to undermine the right to strike.

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