Ryanair pilots are to give notice of industrial action unless pay, working conditions and related issues are addressed by Monday, it has been revealed.

Directly-employed Ryanair pilots based in Ireland have voted by 94% to back industrial action, according to Forsa.

The union, which is required to give at least one week’s strike notice, said it would write to management early next week to outline plans for action unless the airline agrees to union pay proposals by Monday, August 12.

The Irish Airline Pilots’ Association (IALPA) submitted a pay claim to the company in late March 2019, seeking pay levels and structures that it claims are in line with sector norms.

However, negotiations on pay and related matters have stalled since the claim was submitted.

Fórsa assistant general secretary Ian McDonnell said industrial action could be avoided if management at the airline engaged professionally and constructively in talks.

He accused the company of stalling tactics in negotiations.

“Ryanair’s directly-employed Irish-based pilots are simply seeking pay levels that are common and competitive in the commercial airline sector, from a company that made a more-than-healthy profit of €1 billion last year,” he added.

“They feel they have been forced into contemplating potentially-disruptive industrial action by a company that seems either unwilling or unable to negotiate in a professional and constructive manner.

“At this stage, only a substantive counter-proposal, which properly addresses all areas of our claim, will be enough to prevent us from serving notice of industrial action next week,” said Mr McDonnell.

Some 180 directly-employed Ryanair pilots based in Ireland, who are members of IALPA, were eligible to vote in the ballot.

Ryanair pilots employed by agencies were not balloted.

Ryanair, meanwhile, said it is disappointed that the pilots union FORSA is threatening to disrupt customers’ travel plans during August.

The airline claim that less than 60% of Irish FORSA members participated in the ballot meaning less than 25% of Ryanair’s Irish Pilots in total voted for industrial action.

Ryanair added that it will return to mediation on Sunday as planned and that the threat of industrial action “has no mandate from Ryanair pilots” and ill-timed just 10 weeks before the Brexit deadline.