Low-fare carrier Ryanair won its first round in a Norwegian court last week, but now faces a new trial after a former flight attendant who sued the airline over alleged “slave contracts” filed an immediate appeal. She’s still backed by one of Norway’s biggest labour organizations.
Flight attendant Alessandra Cocca is from Italy but worked for the Irish airline Ryanair from its base at Rygge airport outside Moss. She became the first former Ryanair employee to openly challenge the airline over its low pay, lack of benefits and controversial work practices that labour organization Parat equated to “slave contracts.”
The local court in Moss agreed with Ryanair, however, that the case should be tried in an Irish court because Ryanair is an Irish company with Irish-registered aircraft and thus subject to Irish law.
The Norwegian labour organization and several Norwegian politicians and government officials disagree, claiming that Ryanair’s work practices amount to social dumping in Norway and that Norwegian labour law should apply.
Ryanair, meanwhile, claimed full victory and demanded an apology from Parat and labour federation LO. Response from the appeals court regarding a new trial was pending.
newsinenglish.no staff
