Fears of unofficial 'damaging' strikes

Scores of "militant" Air Malta workers are planning a series of unsanctioned lightning strikes over the Easter weekend, a move that threatens to deal a major financial blow to the ailing airline's coffers.

The Government Investment Ministry has been informed that a number of workers from the ground and passenger handling sections were planning a series of "blitz" strikes to protest against restructuring measures planned to pull the national airline away from the brink.

The actions were probably planned for the busiest times for a few hours, possibly spanning the three days of the weekend, a spokesman for the ministry said.

Easter weekend is known to be one of the busiest periods in the year for the airline and the action could cost the airline between Lm1.5 million and Lm2 million in direct costs.

"Little do they realise that the action would unleash much damage and that there is non-quantifiable reputation cost to both airline and country," the spokesman added.

The action does not have the blessing of any of the unions - the GWU, the Cabin Crew Union, the Airline Pilots Union and the Engineers' Union.

When contacted, General Workers' Union section secretary Manuel Zammit expressed surprise at the news, saying he had not been informed of any unauthorised action.

The ministry has been alerted by "very reliable sources" of the action and airline chief executive officer Ernst Funk would be drawing up a contingency plan.

The senior management has in the meantime been informed that it might be asked to step in to do the work and minimise the damage.

According to the spokesman, a number of militant workers were encouraging other workers to join in the action in an attempt to disrupt the agreement being drawn up between the airline management, the government and the four unions.

Some of the recommendations being made by the government and airline management have not gone down well with the workers who face a cut in their take home pay.

The ministry claimed that substantial progress has been made with three of the four unions in the drawing up of a memorandum of understanding sketching the way forward.

Meetings are being held on a daily basis to hammer out a deal acceptable to all parties. The strategy being mapped out proposes that the unions will have a say in the operation of the company.

The ministry spokesman said an "important" meeting will be held on Wednesday during which one of the issues to be discussed is the GWU's insistence for a guarantee that no employee would lose his job in the current restructuring process.