Sunday, 31st May 2009

Air Malta cabin crew directive 'unreasonable'

Air Malta has denied claims that negotiations over a new collective agreement for cabin crew are at a standstill.

Air Malta said that during a meeting on Friday afternoon it was agreed that negotiations would continue and a meeting was scheduled for Tuesday. The airline therefore expressed surprise at a statement by the Union of Cabin Crew stating that they will be restricting in-flight services onboard Air Malta flights as from tomorrow.

Air Malta described the directive as unreasonable and said that apart from causing in-flight service disruptions to its passengers, it came at a sensitive time when tourism arrivals to Malta were down due to the recession.

The airline said it was reserving its rights to protect its interests, the interests of its employees and customers.

It reassured clients that safety on board would not be affected and that it was doing its utmost to minimise inconvenience.

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Article © Allied Newspapers Ltd., printed on Monday, November 23, 2009. This article is for personal use only, and should not be distributed.

Comments

E. Debono (on 2/6/09)

@ R. Scullion, What are you talking about!!!!!!!
Maybe the company should have printed what they were asking from the crew so you will all see the whole picture. Unions do not do strikes or directives for nothing. The cockpit crew had done the same when the company approached them in this same manner.

Robert Scullion (on 31/5/09)

@Galea. L The length of time is probably because the Union keeps asking for too much. Perhaps if the Union announced what its latest offer was everybody would be able to judge whether the Union was being sensible or stupid. Why should it be back dated for 2 years, and to any employee that has left in the meantime .. tough. If they have shown no committment to the company why should they get any benefits when they jump ship.

Ivan Calleja (on 31/5/09)

Thank God for that......at least I hope that we will be spared from being shoved with the cold unappetising 'roll' in the red carton box!

Galea. L (on 31/5/09)

Can AirMalta explain why the discussions are still ongoing after several years?
Does the management expect the workers to continue to lose on any benefits that they would ahve received if the agreement is not backdated?
What about those who may have left in the meantime?