PILOT UPDATE

BROOKFIELD INVESTIGATION

UK & GERMANY

Dear Colleagues,

An extraordinary court case ruling in the UK on 04th Dec 2015 has come to the attention of the RPG.  The judgement places a major spotlight on Ryanair’s practice of hiring pilots in general and on Brookfield International in particular.

As a priority, we would advise every RPG member to read the full court ruling here

 

http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/Admin/2015/3465.html

READ PRESS COVERAGE OF THE INVESTIGATION HERE

Many serious points are raised in the Court ruling and it appears there will be further developments both in the UK and Germany.

We are not aware of any effort  by Ryanair or Brookfield to inform pilots of these developments.  Yet pilots continue to be required to operate on this employment system which is now under serious investigation with potential criminal prosecutions being sought.

These developments will have future ramifications for nearly two thirds of the pilot body.  If ever pilots needed a wake-up call this should be it.

At present, approximately 65% of the enitre pilot body (3,200+) are working through either Storm McGinley or Brookfield contracts however, we are also aware of employee pilots who have encountered problems with income tax and social insurance where they are based.

The RPG is working on your behalf with National Pilot Associations and authorities to bring you further information on this complex matter.   In the meantime, we ask pilots to remain vigilant to any usual activity or proposed changes to their current contracts.  Please contact us in confidence if you have any information in relation to these developments.

Further updates will be made in the coming week on the case with advise for our pilot members who may be concerned about their status. In the meantime;

 

• Share this information with colleagues.
• Advise pilots to join the RPG to protect our interests together

 

Fly Safe