"Ryanair announced that it would recognise pilot unions for the first time in its 32-year history in a bid to stop pilot strike on Friday. Chief executive Michael O’Leary’s refusal to recognise unions was at the heart of the ultra low-cost model he developed to turn a small Irish regional airline into Europe’s largest carrier by passenger numbers."
Long story short: hit the pigs where it hurts the most (ie. their wallet) if you want your rights to be respected.