Air Malta puts internal call for applications on hold

Air Malta yesterday strongly rebutted allegations by the General Workers' Union that it is breaching the collective agreement signed with the union.

"Any claim by the GWU that Air Malta has actually admitted to having breached the collective agreement can only be described as a lie," the national airline said.

Although the airline feels that the practice of direct promotion via a period of substitution to a higher grade is inherently immoral and unjust, Air Malta has and is still fully abiding by all clauses of the agreement including the clause relevant to substitution, it said. "Thus, any industrial action taken by the GWU in the light of the above will result in the union going against the collective agreement," Air Malta claimed.

The airline said it is in favour of the system whereby vacant posts are filled through the process of a call for applications which is first issued internally. This system ensures better corporate governance, giving all employees within the airline an equal level playing, is more fair and transparent, increases job mobility within the organisation and enhances skills and experience when filling up vacant posts, Air Malta said.

A number of calls for applications for vacant posts were in the process of being issued internally. As a result of this dispute, these calls have been temporarily put on hold until the airline holds discussions with the GWU. A conciliatory meeting between the airline and the GWU has been set for today.

"Until the meeting is held the airline will not be commenting further on this issue," Air Malta said.

The GWU has registered an industrial dispute with Air Malta over what it said were abuses by the management on substitution pay and the filling of vacancies.