A Ryanair pilot was forced to request police assistance after Danish workers surrounded the carrier ’ s first flight from Copenhagen to Dublin and prevented it from leaving , said airport officials . Passengers and crew were stranded for three hours as dozens of employees held a protest over Ryanair ’ s refusal to enter into a collective bargaining agreement with a union for pilot and flight attendants . Up to 60 employees , who demonstrated within Copenhagen Airport ’ s security perimeter , blocked the plane near one of the gates and prevented it from refuelling . Demonstrators put duct tape over their mouths and urged Ryanair workers to 'break the silence ' Inside the terminal , demonstrators put duct tape over their mouths and held signs reading ‘ Ryanair colleagues , break the silence , we have freedom to talk about our jobs ’ . Copenhagen Airports spokesman Soeren Nielsen told MailOnline Travel that the pilot asked airport officials to call police . He said : ‘ We requested the police assistance on behalf of the Ryanair pilot … because there was a breach of safety rules and regulations . ‘ We were in constant dialogue [ with the pilot ] throughout the three hours that the aircraft was here at the airport. ’ Police responded to the airport and allowed the group to continue its protest . Deputy police inspector James Keiwe told Danish news agency Ritzau : ‘ We have asked them to consider leaving the site and resolve the conflict in a different way . They were going to think about it . Outside the terminal employees blocked Ryanair 's first flight from Copenhagen to Dublin . ‘ We are very tolerant and patient at the Copenhagen police , so they must be given time for that. ’ The protest came to an end about three hours later as the workers , who waved Danish flags , voluntarily dispersed . Ryanair said the protest was carried out by ‘ non-Ryanair individuals ’ and called on Danish authorities to prevent a repeat of the ‘ unlawful blockade ’ . Protesters are upset that Ryanair is treating its Danish employees under Irish employment rules . Unrest has been building since October when Ryanair announced that it would be flying between Copenhagen and Dublin , London , Warsaw and Milan under Irish employment rules . Trade unions have taken legal action in a bid to force Ryanair to treat its workers at Copenhagen Airport under Denmark ’ s generous employment rules . Ryanair is planning to push ahead with plans for its Copenhagen base , although a ruling next week could lead to more demonstrations and further disruptions for the Dublin-based carrier . A Ryanair spokeswoman told MailOnline Travel : ‘ This Ryanair flight from Copenhagen to Dublin was subjected to an unlawful blockade by non-Ryanair individuals at Copenhagen Airport and its departure was delayed by three hours . ‘ We call on the relevant authorities to take all necessary action to prevent any repeat of this unlawful blockade and we remain committed to growing jobs , routes and tourism in Denmark , with the opening of our new Copenhagen base next week . ’
Demonstrators are unhappy with Ryanair 's treatment of employees . Dublin-based carrier is treating workers under Irish employment rules . Protesters want them to be treated under generous Danish laws . Police responded to the airport but allowed the protest to continue . Ryanair said the protest was carried out by ‘ non-Ryanair individuals ’ It called on authorities to prevent a repeat of the ‘ unlawful blockade ’