Air Malta, cabin crew union reach agreement

Cardona Sammy

Apr 28th 2009, 14:58

can you all get all the facts right before commenting.

Ronnie Gauci

Apr 28th 2009, 14:07

@ Michael Pace

Seems to me that an agreement was reached only because Air Malta was threatened with a strike during such a delicate time of the year and not as you stated, stop living in Disneyland please, you should have closed your argument with "and lived happily ever after".

A.Calleja

Apr 28th 2009, 07:13

Well said Norman Vella. I agree with you. Don't the cabin crew realize that in times like this they are jeopardizing their jobs and the Company existence. I agree that workers should fight for their rights but there should also be some tolerance. Really I am not that much concerned who is going to foot the extra bill. I am most concerned about the unfair bad reputation given to AIR MALTA. Promoting Malta is costing the tax payer millions of euros. Yes shame for the union for not being tolerant.

Aldo Borg

Apr 28th 2009, 06:49

Jidher bic-car x'qasma tezisti bejn il-unions li jmexxu l-haddiema ta' l-airmalta. Filwaqt li l-Alpa gabitha zewg daqs sena ilu, issa jidher li din il-union il-UCC qed tkun accountable ghal-membri taghha, b'detriment li l-pizijiet u s-sagrificji jaghmluhom biss in-nies li msieken ghadhom jemmnu li l-Gwu jew il-Uhm (issa spalla ma spalla mal-UCC) jistghu jaqbzu ghad-drittijiet taghhom, u dan wara hames snin friza fil-paga, ecc...ecc...eccc....
Wasal iz-zmien li IVA l-Ground Staff ta'l-Airmalta jkollu HOUSE UNION ta' sahha u dawk is-shop stewards li qed juru l-inkompetenza taghhom jitwarbu. B'hekk we start a bright new fresh page.

Charles Spiteri

Apr 28th 2009, 06:37

I feel this settlement was unjust, when three minutes flying time might have been recovered during the journey. Union Haddiema Maghqudin should also note that other low ranking employees are still under a wage freeze, dating back from 2004 and having to work on supplimentary duties. What is this Union trying to do for such workers? Is it wise to sweep off 109,000 euro at a go for a handful of cabin crew and leave other workers at their mercy?

Ronnie Gauci

Apr 28th 2009, 01:03

@ L.Gatt

Air Malta never asked a penny from taxpayers but if it this irresponsable behaviour continues and Air Malta will have to lay off some of its workers than yes, we'll have to fork.

I'm disappointed with Air Malta that was scared off by a very arrogant and irrisponsable person like Mr. Sargent looks to be. This person knows that most of the cabin will find jobs with other companies should something should happen to Air Malta and so doesn't care for the well being of our country and the remainder of Air Malta employees. For 180 seconds they should have closed an eye after all when flights arrive 20-30 minutes early they still get paid in full, I hope Air Malta will start paying them by the minute.

Michael Pace

Apr 27th 2009, 22:48

Thank God industrial relations are not the responsibility of readers who comment. Here is a case of an industrial dispute, which was settled through negotiations. That's the way things are done. Not through garnishee orders, or dismissals, or one-sided press releases. Employers and employees sit down and talk and reach agreement. Mediators are an immense help. May it always be so.

L.Gatt

Apr 27th 2009, 22:21

@Andrew Calleja

I would like to ask you how many nights you spend away from your home and how many awkward hours do you work? And how many persons you are responsible for whilst performing your job? And I would like to ask who was accountable, was it the cabin crew who obeyed the laws imposed by EU or the company who was to provide standby personnel and they never did? Three cheers for all the cabin crew and a real shame for the Airmalta operations department. Surely its not the cabin crew who "qeghdin ipappu minn fuq dar il-poplu" But it was the cabin crew who helped the airline getting back on its feet during the memorandum of understanding few years back.

Andrew Calleja

Apr 27th 2009, 21:52

especially @ L.Gatt

It would be interesting to know how many of you have worked in the private sector. It seems you have no idea what accountability is and the long hours other people in other sectors are working just to keep it going.

hafna nies ippappu nahseb minn fuq dar il poplu!

L.Gatt

Apr 27th 2009, 20:35

@ norman vella...Shame on you as well for your unfair biased comments.Does it really interest you who will fork out the 109,000 euros? I am sure that it wont be the tax payer as Airmalta never asked a penny from the tax payer. But it was the other way round, as the airline was always there for the taxpayer. How many flights did Airmalta do to get maltese people abroad and get a paid holiday in order to cast their vote? How many empty flights did Airmalta do so that the maltese people can have good connections throughout Europe? Over paid waiters dont need you on board their planes Mr Vella as they want people who appreciate their job and be there for them in case of an emergency.

Joe Cassar

Apr 27th 2009, 20:20

If only the UHM had been as responsible and shown the same solidarity in the electricity tariff issue!

L.Gatt

Apr 27th 2009, 20:08

@ alfred cassar Shame on you for still trying to under estimate the cabin crew union. Maybe some unions will learn from UCC and its members action and companies will learn not to under estimate their workers.

Norman Vella

Apr 27th 2009, 19:38

Can someone illuminate us about who on earth is going to pay the €109,000 bill for Air Malta? Will it be us who, once again, will be asked to pay higher air ticket prices? We can understand paying more due to oil prices, increased security measures and, to a certain limit, a disproportionate work force with an exaggerated pay roll, but footing the bill for the extravagance of some flying over paid waiters who refuse to work three minutes extra is a bit too much. The Union of Cabin Crew should simply be ashamed of itself and of its directives. We can take no more of this arrogance. This entire story is simply unacceptable.

P Muscat

Apr 27th 2009, 19:33

So, what does this agreement contain? We have been dragged into this saga for a 3 minute delay or overtime or call it what you like and now the taxpayer is not informed of the agreement. And what about the clients using Air Malta for these flights?

J Attard

Apr 27th 2009, 19:12

maybe we are missing a paragraph????

Alfred Cassar

Apr 27th 2009, 19:10

So now it's confirmed, all this storm in a teacup happened because of the Crew Union. Thumbs down to Union of Cabin Crew, Well done to UHM. Some unions can surely learn from UHM's actions

Joseph E Briffa

Apr 27th 2009, 19:08

G.Sinagra

Apr 27th 2009, 18:55

Am I right in assuming UHM will be footing the 109000 euro bill on behalf of Air Malta ?

Joseph Cauchi

Apr 27th 2009, 18:32

At last, common sense prevailed! Well done Air Malta, the union of the cabin staff and UHM. ../..

G.Schembri

Apr 27th 2009, 18:24

That a piece of good news. Glad to hear that UHM gave a hand. There should be more solidarity between unions. Workers need each other.