GWU objects to Air Malta redundancy scheme

The Air Malta voluntary redundancy scheme launched last week shows the airline has learned nothing from the mistakes it made in a similar scheme two years ago, the General Workers' Union has said.

The union said the first scheme had seen some of the best people leave the airline, only to resurface in the employment of competitors.

The airline replied that it was clear the GWU was misinformed about the scheme, as had been the case two years ago.

Air Malta said 160 employees had benefited from the previous voluntary redundancy scheme, allowing the company to cut down on costs and offer more competitive prices.

But the scheme, the GWU said, would not help Air Malta restructure and it only appeared to be aimed at cost-cutting.

If the company really wanted to restructure, it first needed to decide how many workers it hoped would take up the scheme and who would be eligible, rather than opening the door to everybody, the union said.

In reply, the airline said it introduced the second scheme because of the precarious situation the aviation industry was going through and the devastating effects the rise in oil prices had left on the global economy.

If the company's aims were not reached, it said, it would then be forced to take any measure to ensure a sustainable future for itself, the economy and the tourism industry.

The GWU said it was not prepared to discuss the scheme with the airline until it declared how many excess workers it had and in which sections.