Cabin crew suspend directives

Richard Granville Scrowston

Jun 20th 2009, 12:56

Well said, Sarah Galea !

I have travelled with Air Malta many times from the UK, often from Leeds/Bradford airport. The flight time is approx. 3 hrs 30 mins.. Now, just simply adding the outward and return journey together gives a shift of 7 hours. Of course, there is the turn-around time of approx. 1 hour. We are now up to a shift of 8 hours. No doubt, cabin crew have to turn up at the airport some little time before the actual flight departure. Please correct me if I'm wrong - but this is a blooming long working day - something like 10 hours, I guess. Cabin crew are on the go all the time - if you paid me 30,000 UK Sterling per annum, I would decline the offer of a job as cabin crew. I have cringed with embarrassment at the behaviour of fellow passengers towards cabin crew many times. How on earth cabin crew put up with this day in day out, I simply don't know. All Air Malta cabin crew without exception (over 20 years) have been professional and their service, from my viewpoint, has been exemplary. I wish you all well.

Richard Granville Scrowston.

Sarah Galea

Jun 20th 2009, 08:42

To Mr.M.Busuttil
Actually Mr.Busuttil you are right we had a wage freeze for 5 years so you admit that yourself, secondly we are not over paid, by the way I don't know what is your job, and we are not the shame of the airline infact, we are pillars to the airline.
Mr.Farrugia infact we do our duty all the time our duty is not serving people but being safety officers, and with that there is never and never will be a directive.
Mr.Ebejer have you ever worked as a cabin crew, have you ever got the pay of a cabin crew, so if not shut up and don't comment, alot of crew the temporary ones do work as a cabin crew as an experience but I assure you being a cabin crew all year round it is not as pleasent as it seems.
Sarah

Dennis Azzopardi

Jun 19th 2009, 22:30

@william ebejer
NO you are not !!

Steve Livingston

Jun 19th 2009, 22:04

Had a wonderful journey today, flew Air Malta from Munich to Malta. No drinks served apart from water and juice with the bread roll (in flight meal). No Times of Malta on the flight - one of the cabin crew informed us over the pa system that this was due to the fact that this particular publication was not printing their press releases. Landed and was looking forward to seeing my waiting wife, toddler and 2 month old baby but unfortunately had to wait an extra hour as the baggage handlers were playing silly buggers - letting out 5 pieces of luggage every 20 minutes or so.

I was disappointed with Air Malta cabin crew, as I feel that I paid for the ticket in good faith and expected the usual Air Malta service. The baggage handlers......well, it's probably better that I keep my thoughts to myself.

Well done to those two parties, I'm sure the tourists were really impressed with their welcome to Malta - you're a credit to the country.

WilliamEbejer

Jun 19th 2009, 21:24

I'm not sure how much money these cabin crew are making from their job, but I'm sure they got a good pay comparing it to other jobs in Malta, and lets face it, if your not happy with your job, fine! no doubt loads of people out there would do anything to have such job, so what the heck! take it or leave it. You want better pay, find another job or another country! Am I right?

L. Dimech

Jun 19th 2009, 18:31

An expat just returning to Malta today remarked what a great shame it was that Malta was doing it's utmost to attract foreigners, and then with a planeload of foreigners coming from the UK they were treated to an announcement by the crew saying they would not be distributing The Times, as it refused to carry out some Union letter or announcement. Also that they would not be distributing coffee etc. Reading the article Bleak Tourism Prospects, brings home the irresponsibility of such acts. Worse still, whilst cabin crew, and any employee for that matter, has every right to defend his rights, they do not have the right to try and put at risk what has cost the country big money to try and attract tourists. Moreover they do not attract either the sympathy of the traveller (who might opt for another airline next time - given they return at all), or of the Maltese public, who probably have to settle their own problems without damaging other sectors of the economy. Grow up and start doing things in a really professional way ! Do Unions REALLY act in the interests of their members? Sometimes I have serious doubts.

Richard Granville Scrowston

Jun 19th 2009, 18:15

This bickering must stop. I am a tourist, I have visited Malta twice yearly for 20 years. I usually fly on chartered flights but try to opt for an Air Malta operated flight. Let me tell you, the sight of an Air Malta aircraft taxiing-in to the UK airport of my departure fills me with a sense of happiness, well-being and a wonderful holiday to come. The red tail-fin with the Maltese Cross conveys friendliness, security and, of course, a wonderful holiday beckoning. It is sad to see bad feeling amongst Air Malta's staff. You have a wonderful National Airline of which you should be so proud. The Ryanair's and Easyjet's of this world are, in my view, not within touching distance as regards the overall service that is provided when compared with Air Malta. So, all of you Air Malta staff, from Chief Executive to Office Junior, keep up the good work. World recession, fuel prices etc. necessitate belt-tightening. Senior management must appreciate the pressures on ground and air staff. All workers must equally appreciate the pressures on Senior Management. I don't want to see the red tail-fin with Maltese Cross disappear from Leeds/Bradford airport forever. Richard G Scrowston.

A.Bartolo

Jun 19th 2009, 16:59

@ A. Abela
I like to bring to your attention that a delay is much better than kept STRANDED and without any information how you are going to reach your destination.

Shirley Sammut

Jun 19th 2009, 16:23

@mbusuttil
Where do you get your information??? Even cabin crew had a wage freeze for the past 5 years, just like all the other sections at KM, but over a year ago, the pilots (after having their own industrial actions) & the engineers concluded their collective agreements satisfactorily, while the cabin crew are still waiting

Please do not speak if you do not have accurate information!!!

There are 2 parties involved here. Cabin crew have always had the best interest of their clients at heart and, from day 1, they've been wanting to resolve this situation as quickly as possible......can the same be said of the other party???

Paul Attard

Jun 19th 2009, 16:13

I'm shocked to read M Busuttil's comments. Although the cabin crew must take stock of the global situation and limit their requests according to the current scenario in no way one can say that "they are the shame of our airline". I may not be such a frequent fligher but the few times I travelled with Airmalta the cabin crew service was much more than satisfactory.

Joseph Calleja

Jun 19th 2009, 15:39

It is very nice to hear that cooler heads prevailed in the contract talks between Air Malta and the Cabin Crew Union. Punishing the passenger is not going to accomplish much except resentment. I hope the cabin crew keeps giving the passengers their utmost safe care and comfort so they keep flying on Air Malta. I always thought that Air Malta had some of the most friendliest and most efficient cabin crew in flight. Take care of that passenger in flight, and hopefully Air Malta and the Union can settle their differences without using the passenger and the cabin crew as a threat. I agree, six years without a contract is a bit too much, hopefully an agreement will be reached soon. .

Jeremy J Camilleri

Jun 19th 2009, 15:32

J Farrugia, A union's duty is towards its members.

The directives where lifted as thanks to industrial action, teh management thought it was better to listen rather than ignore.

MBusutiil, so are you advocating a wage freeze despite Maltese workers being amonst the lowest paid in the EU?

Taking leafs out of 80' s Economic policies are you?

J Farrugia

Jun 19th 2009, 15:25

Finally I am seeing that common sense is once again prevailing at Air Malta. The employees have to udnerstand that by pushing such industrial actions against the customers, they are ruining their own job at the company. Do your duty.

H dempster

Jun 19th 2009, 15:12

Good old cabin staff, very sensible move. hope to see you in november.,

mbusuttil

Jun 19th 2009, 15:07

Shame on you!! Other KM staff had their salaries frozen for the past five years or so and no one ever said anyhting ... Cabin crew are the shame of our national airline, besides being over paid..

a abela

Jun 19th 2009, 14:32

Thank God, pity I had already booked ryanair to avoid the delays.