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Pilots say they did their part, “it’s high time for management to get it right and turn Air Malta around”
Karl Stagno-Navarra
Government is reported to have started discussions with Air Malta officials into finding a solution to the undesired stalemate that has developed within the airline following the pilots and the cabin crew unions refusal of the proposed second rescue plan.
While Investments Minister Austin Gatt has insisted that he will not comment about the recent development that has put the proposed rescue plan on the shelf, other unions are still awaiting clarifications from the airline’s executive as to what is next to come.
Government sources explained last night that Air Malta is expected to produce tough proposals to the four unions that represent the 1,500 strong workforce.
“All unions knew that through a second rescue plan there would have been a guarantee of no forced lay-offs,” said a senior source, while adding that through a collective agreement, “we all know that the situation is far more different.”
A spokesman for ALPA, the pilots’ union, told this paper that the decision not to accept a second rescue plan was based on the fact that enough sacrifices have been made and the situation remained as it was.
“We did our part and now it’s high time for the management to get it right and turn Air Malta around,” he said.
The pilots’ union insisted that all pilots have given their utmost to the company during these last two very crucial years by giving more but receiving less. “We have brought money into the company while our increments were kept on hold,” he said.
The spokesman stressed that ALPA’s refusal of a second rescue plan does not mean that the union is shutting the door to any discussions with the airline. “What we are seeking is a real commitment by the airline to do its part and look into the real problems that are eating away at its operations, and management knows this,” he said.
Clearly aware of government’s position regarding no guarantees on forced lay-offs given that a second rescue plan is to be discarded, ALPA has augured that the situation will not become that dramatic.
“We are here to talk and see Air Malta back on its feet. We indeed mean no harm to the airline, and most of all, all of us believe in the company,” he said.
On the other hand, the cabin crew union chose not to speak or justify the decision not to accept the rescue plan.
“We will be speaking to the media at the appropriate time but not before we have in fact started discussions with Air Malta on the way forward,” said a senior source in the cabin crew union.
The remaining sectors governed by the General Workers Union and the Engineers Union are reported to have written to Air Malta and requested clarifications into the list of proposals originally submitted last December by the airline.
Both unions have asked the airline management to formally declare what it is prepared to do, and what it is ready to do to compensate for the workers, sacrifices. So far no replies have been received.
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