Ryanair Faces Europe-Wide Strike Threat as Pilots Push for Union

  • Italian crews planning four-hour walkout later this month
  • Employees around Europe are organizing amid staffing squeeze
Passengers queue to board a Ryanair Holdings Plc aircraft at Dublin Airport, operated by Dublin Airport Authority, in Dublin, Ireland, on Friday, Nov. 25, 2016. Ryanair provides low fare passenger airline services to destinations in Europe.Photographer: Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg
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Ryanair Holdings Plc faces its first-ever strike as crews in Italy prepare to walk out as part of a push for unionization and company-wide contracts, and staff in six other countries also consider action.

Pilots and flight attendants in Italy plan to walk off the job for four hours from 1 p.m. local time on Dec. 15, according two unions. Workers in markets including Ireland, where Ryanair is based, will announce ballot results in coming days, according to a person familiar with the plans.