Pilots reject pay offer

Air Malta pilots yesterday grounded a financial proposal put forward by the airline.

Sources present at an extraordinary general meeting of the pilots' union, attended by about 50 pilots, said the national airline had passed on a financial proposal to the union without listing working conditions.

The pilots refused the offer and will be sending an official reaction to Air Malta.

Sources told The Times that initially the pilots were making demands that would cost the airline Lm3 million annually but this sum was eventually scaled down to Lm1.6 million.

The airline countered with an offer of Lm1 million spread over two-and-a-half years, arguing that the company had to keep in mind a certain equity in the pay rises it gave its staff.

Moreover, rising oil prices and competition were hurting the company.

Talks on the collective agreement have been going on for several months.

It is understood that the airline could declare a deadlock and refer the matter to conciliation and arbitration, as stipulated in the collective agreement.

The Airline Pilots Association recently ordered a symbolic dress down from full uniform. It has complained of a pilot shortage that, it claimed, resulted in some delays due to lack of standby crew.

Air Malta had accused the pilots of inflexibility.