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SomeOneUK

SomeOneUK

United Kingdom
June 2004

APR 23, 2005 09:01 AM

In a cost cutting scheme, Irish airline Ryanair has banned staff from charging their mobile phones at work.

The edict, which has infuriated employees and trade unions, will save the airline an estimated 1.4p [$0.03] for each charge. But even if all its 2,600 staff plugged in their phones at once, the bill of £28.60 [$57] would scarcely dent the company's annual profits of £154m, [$300m].



[...]



Ryanair's growth has been built on a "no-frills" culture taken to such extremes that unions have dubbed it the world's stingiest company.



The ban on mobile phone chargers, which was communicated to staff in a memo, is just the latest in a string of controversial cutbacks. Staff are also expected to pay for their own uniforms, crew meals and training courses.



However, concern runs much deeper than the mere inconvenience of not being able to charge a cell phone on the job.

Such is the concern about working conditions that the International Transport Workers' Federation has urged air travellers to think hard about Ryanair's employment policies before booking tickets.



A source at one pilots' association said: "Essentially, when you look at Ryanair you've got to forget about conventional business models and think about the nature of what a 'cost' is. You've got to stop thinking about employees as people who have rights - they're a resource which flows through the organisation and when you're done with them, you get rid of them."



Top of the list of concerns is the way Ryanair recruits. It encourages young cabin crew with offers of hefty wages, but requires them to pay as much as £2,700 upfront for training.

Bastardo

Bastardo

Boston, MA
January 2005

APR 23, 2005 10:12 AM

God, Irishmen are the cheapest bastards.

ArgentumBlack

ArgentumBlack

Lincoln, NE
March 2004

APR 23, 2005 10:14 AM

TheIrishBastard said:
God, Irishmen are the cheapest bastards.



hehe thats funny cause your name is...oh nevermind.

But really people, are we becoming that attached to those pieces of paper?

*hugs a dollar bill*

[Edited on Apr 23, 2005 12:14PM]

Lego

Lego

United Kingdom
June 2003

APR 23, 2005 10:24 AM

I don't see what the problem is-- if people don't like Ryanair's employment, they don't have to work for them.
When they have huge staff shortages because of everyone's resigned, they'll either change their ways or go bust.
No biggie.
In the mean time, they're making sure the major airlines moderate their prices to stay in competition with them.
*High five* to Ryanair.

wsj

wsj

I'm lost
September 2002

APR 23, 2005 10:24 AM

wasn't Scrooge McDuck Irish?

ArgentumBlack

ArgentumBlack

Lincoln, NE
March 2004

APR 23, 2005 10:25 AM

Sugita said:
wasn't Scrooge McDuck Irish?



I thought he was scottish?

dem_z

dem_z

United Kingdom
June 2004

APR 23, 2005 11:51 AM

Lego said:
I don't see what the problem is-- if people don't like Ryanair's employment, they don't have to work for them.


That's over simplistic, eh?

TonyTails

TonyTails

Calgary, AB
December 2003

APR 23, 2005 11:55 AM

Wouldn't the memo cost more to print than the savings from this?

Lego

Lego

United Kingdom
June 2003

APR 23, 2005 12:09 PM

demetrius_z said:

Lego said:
I don't see what the problem is-- if people don't like Ryanair's employment, they don't have to work for them.


That's over simplistic, eh?



It's simple; I'm not sure about over-simplistic. Just don't think it needs to be a big deal...

bluevalentine

bluevalentine

Austin, TX
December 2003

APR 23, 2005 12:14 PM

I've said it once and I'll say it again.

Ryanair is one of my favourite companies.

A couple of years ago they saved something like 50,000 euros a year by cutting back from 3 ice cubes per drink to two ice cubes per drink (drinks which you have to pay for, no less)

It's brillilant.

Plus, the CEO openly states his hobbies as "smoking, drinking and chasing loose women"

dkmfc

dkmfc

Germany
January 2003

APR 23, 2005 12:17 PM

Broken_Gavel said:
Do what you will with your employees, Ryanair! - as long you keep offering me flights from Paris to Rome for four fucking Euros!! shocked


4 euros?
you're shitting me right?

I just found a bag with about 70 euros in coins that was on the floor in my closet. feel like flying around the world?

YUSHi

YUSHi

United Kingdom
May 2004

APR 23, 2005 04:39 PM

Are they still planning on banning large luggage that needs to be handled into an aircrafts hold? I remember they wanted to remove the service because it would save them a fortune in airport fees as they wouldn't have any large baggage that would have to be handled by airport staff.

easyJet just laughed at it and said it was a stupid idea which it was...

Thistle

Thistle

SUICIDEGIRL

California, USA

APR 23, 2005 04:58 PM

this sounds like the worst airline ever. who wants to get on an airplane where the entire crew is totally pissed off?

jholtsnider

jholtsnider

I'm lost
February 2004

APR 23, 2005 06:24 PM

Thistle said:
this sounds like the worst airline ever. who wants to get on an airplane where the entire crew is totally pissed off?



And that would be different from flying a US carrier how? smile

Seriously, though, RyanAir's prices are really really low. I wish we had something like this here.

bluevalentine

bluevalentine

Austin, TX
December 2003

APR 23, 2005 06:27 PM

Yeah, I didnt fly from London to Gothenburg for 5 quid and expect some stewardess to be blowing sunshine up my ass.

ninetysevencents

ninetysevencents

Rochester, NY
August 2003

APR 24, 2005 08:30 AM

Argentum said:

Sugita said:
wasn't Scrooge McDuck Irish?



I thought he was scottish?



aye, There was an episode or two when they went to Scotland. I think they dealt with druids and some sort of ghost hound.

thefreak

thefreak

NEWSWIRE

Gardner, MA

APR 24, 2005 08:52 AM



DuckTales...Awoohoo!

-TM

FrankMask

FrankMask

Saint Paul, MN
June 2003

APR 24, 2005 09:03 AM

Thistle said:
this sounds like the worst airline ever. who wants to get on an airplane where the entire crew is totally pissed off?



But at the same time, If I have to be miserably uncomfortable and unable to move around for five hours, I'd just as happily do it for 20$ instead of 400$+.

GramNegative

GramNegative

I'm lost
October 2004

APR 24, 2005 09:26 AM

Lego said:

demetrius_z said:

Lego said:
I don't see what the problem is-- if people don't like Ryanair's employment, they don't have to work for them.


That's over simplistic, eh?



It's simple; I'm not sure about over-simplistic. Just don't think it needs to be a big deal...


People are not a completely fluid commodity. That is why it is over-simplistic. I don't know if it's a 'big deal', but consumers should know what kind of behavior they are supporting.