Updated: Air Malta-union talks on voluntary redundancies start tomorrow
Airline to file judicial protest against the GWU
Air Malta announced today that it would starting talks with the GWU and three other unions tomorrow on voluntary redundancy schemes and new work practices which need to be introduced as part of the restructuring programme.
In a statement issued just hours after the GWU declared an industrial dispute with the airline, Air Malta said the changes which will be discussed in the talks will help make the airline profitable and save at least 800 jobs.
The GWU said it had declared an industrial dispute because Air Malta had not guaranteed alternative jobs for the 511 workers it plans to shed.
Air Malta in its statement this evening said that the GWU had already agreed on tomorrow's talks, and its declaration of a dispute before negotiations were carried out was out of order.
The airline said it could not not guarantee jobs since it was a commercial concern. It said it would register its disagreement with the GWU by filing a judicial protest tomorrow. The airline said it would reserve the right to take further legal action to protect its interests.
"The threat of industrial action is already damaging the airline," it said, while calling on all unions to act responsible.
In its statement, the union recalled that it had set a June 30 deadline for a guarantee of jobs.
The union said it would continue to insist that the workers should be given a job so that they could then be able to decide their future once they could see the full picture.
Finance Minister Tonio Fenech said last month that the government could not offer alternative jobs because that was forbidden under EU rules since it was considered to be state aid.
He said, however, that the government would offer generous early retirement schemes as had been done in other cases, in what appeared to be a reference to the dockyard.
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Mike Done
Jul 5th 2011, 08:35
Good old unions. Air Malta is about to go belly up and what do these people do....call a strike. Very helpful. Why doesn't somebody tell them this is the 21st century, and they can't have it all their own way all the time. Help, don't hinder!!
Maria Vassallo
Jul 4th 2011, 21:56
And what about the strikes ordered by the GWU to bring down the Nationalist Government, Mr. Busuttil?
Why don't you consult the past honest workers?
What about the stealing that went on? What about the horrendous blasphemies that were elicited?
Alex Spiteri
Jul 4th 2011, 21:45
Darba persuna kien qal hekk...
Fit-tmun ta' pajjizna b'par idejn sodi!!!!
Iggudikawni fuq dak li nghamel mhux fuq dak li nghid!!!
Ahna l-partit tal-gustizzja socjali!!!!
Ix-xoghol id-dinjita' tal-bniedem!!!!
Qalbna mal-haddiema!!!!
B'-O---Z--mohhok mistrieh!!!
Mill-kliem ghal fatti hemm bahar jikkumbatti..!! Pero niftakar ukoll li din il-persuna li Dr Joseph Muscat qaltlu hekk fuq
Mr Victor vella
Jul 4th 2011, 21:36
a)Airline to file judicial protest against the GWU
b)The airline said it could not not guarantee jobs since it was a commercial concern.
c)The airline said it would reserve the right to take further legal action to protect its interests.
The first question: What is this bias against the GWU? As far as I am concerned the ALPA and cabin crew union already gave to Air Malta the dates when they are going to take industrial action against Air Malta? So, why Air Malta has not already filed a judicial protest against these unions? The GWU has not yet finalized the dates when to take any industrial action. So, what is the use of filing a judicial protest against the GWU when it was always consistent in its pleas that were from the very beginning consistent with the employer guarantee that nobody is going to lose his/her job? Who is going to respond to the letter sent before the last general election that Air Malta is on the right track to recovery and Air Malta also employed more people to its paycheck? What are these interests that the corrupted airline is going to reserve the right to take further legal action to protect WHAT interests? The interests of corruption, greed and incompetency? What action the company is going to take against the other unions that already fixed the date to take industrial action and they have every right to strike? When one reads your misleading title it seems that only GWU is going to take industrial action against the corrupted company. One could have been without a conscience and its face I don`t know with what kind of rubbish to cover to file a judicial protest against its employees who have nothing to do with the rampant corruption the company is filled with. Now the company is changing its cowardice by bringing the new fallacy that it it could not not guarantee jobs since it was a commercial concern. As a commercial concern Air Malta had to safeguard the interests of its employees and their families and not putting the lives of the same employees in clear danger by irresponsibly and unconsciously continued to employ more employees, gave production bonuses to unproductive management, giving unimagined promotions when the company was already bankrupt to satiate the power of Tonio Fenech and his regime while trying to purposely misleading Air Malta employees to show a false picture of what in fact was a distorted image of a company infested with corruption, lust for power and financially bankrupt. These are the interests that Air Malta want to safeguard.
Mr mario gellel
Jul 4th 2011, 20:31
PUT IN PRISON THOSE WHOSE DECISIONS BANKRUPT AIRMALTA AND SAFEGUARD THE JOBS OF THE INNOCENT WORKERS.
Charles Pace
Jul 4th 2011, 19:36
Can people at least get their facts right. Mr N attard MIA and Air Malta are separate entities and the security at MIA has nothing to do with Air Malta.
Mr Joseph N. Attard
Jul 4th 2011, 18:38
Let me tell you what kind of employees the politicians have lumbered Air Malta (or MIA) with. Someone I know has a pacemaker, and avoids going through the electronic scanners. He discreetly asks athe person manning them to be manually frisked, explaing the reason why. Some time back, at MIA, this person privately intimated his problem to the lady concerned. Immediately, she shouted across the room: "Ton, ha jghaddi da, ghax ghandu l-pacemaker!" Everybody's attention turned on the poor man. What sort of training was this lady given? Indeed, what level of education did she possess to act in this manner? She was definitely unsuitable for the job.
Mr edward ciantar
Jul 4th 2011, 20:43
The lady was definitely an MIA employee as Air Malta staff never manned security points Attard.
C Attard
Jul 4th 2011, 23:28
hellooooooo ! planet earth calling !!! MIA and Airmalta are 2 different companies mate !! the first one is the one making money on behalf of the last
Mr Jimmie Rowe
Jul 4th 2011, 23:46
My advice would be to Sack her on the spot uneducated people have no place at MIA they would be better suited digging or filling up pot holes out on the roads as opposed to dealing with the foreign public. Agree?
Mr Paul Caruana
Jul 4th 2011, 17:35
Fair 's fair......if workers at drydocks, after bankrupting their enterprise where offered a generous early retirement scheme, Airmalta workers should, if anything, be offered something even better!
Mr Joseph Calleja
Jul 4th 2011, 17:48
Oh they are, they are.
Charles Busuttil
Jul 4th 2011, 18:46
Did the workers bankrupt the drydocks or wrong decisions taken by a succession of managements? What about the Furmount affair?
Mr Joseph Calleja
Jul 4th 2011, 16:58
@ Mr C Vella
And why do you think Air Malta is the exception. Like the other airlines that went bust Air Malta has been dishing out Freebies (to politicians and their families), I think even some of the contractors who served Air Malta were getting Freebies in all the years it has been in service. Let's face it everybody knows that politics and politicians is part of the demise of Air Malta, the other part was incompetent management and of course the Unions. When the going was good all airlines, even the bad ones were making money.The government is not equipped to run an airline and Tonio Fenech admitted that fact. That is what happens when you send a boy to do a man’s job. Up to a few years ago the employees of Air Malta had it easy, good job, good pay and good benefits, now that the airline is almost bankrupt, these same employees want a guaranteed alternative job. If the government promises an alternate job to the redundant employees of Air Malta then the government is obligated to make the same offer to any other employee who is being redundant in any of the other industries, including private industries. We all pay the same Taxes. And by the way, are those employees who decide to take the generous Early Retirement Offer still keeping their flying privileges? Also you mention Swiss Air as an example. And why is Air Malta so different? Alitalia, Sabena, Olympic Airlines, TWA, Pan AM, these are some of the bigger airlines that went bust. What makes you think that Air Malta is not part of this group? Who ever thought that two of the biggest airlines in the world, Pan Am and TWA would fall? I have to agree with Mr Carmel Farrugia on this one. Air Malta management and the Unions need to sit down together and try to find ways to save the airline, planning industrial action now will do nothing but put a final nail to help shut down the National Airline. You never hit a man when he's down. The airline does not need the union as much as the union needs the airline. 511 redundant employees are 511 less dues. Do the mathematics?
Charles Busuttil
Jul 4th 2011, 18:50
Who guaranteed Air Malta employees' jobs before the last general election, even though knowing since 2004, that this promise was very difficult to keep?
Mr Joseph Calleja
Jul 4th 2011, 19:12
@ Charles Busuttil
You answered your own question. Pre election promises don't mean squat unless you have them in writing and you can present that writing to a court of law. In an election campaign all politicians make promises they cannot keep, we know it and they know it. If PM Gonzi guaranteed jobs for all Air Malta employees then he should have guaranteed every job on the island. We all pay the same taxes. Why is an Air Malta employee so different from any other employee? Only a fool will take a politician's promises for granted, especially if they say it before an election. The only guarantee in life is taxes and death and you might be able to escape taxes but never escape death. So much for PM Gonzi's guarantee.
L GRECH
Jul 4th 2011, 20:04
joseph Calleja,
i do have the promise of guaranteed employement in hand, duly signed by one Lawrence Gonz; and so do other 1300 employeesi
Mr Joseph Calleja
Jul 5th 2011, 01:06
@ L Grech and all other Air Malta employees,
If you think that piece of paper guaranteeing you employment signed by one Lawrence Gonzi means anything? Try taking Dr Gonzi to court and see how far that gets you. Or even better, Why not check with your Union Leaders and see what they think. Look Mr Grech, believe me, I am on your side, but that piece of paper is not worth the paper it's written on and you know it. Dr Gonzi could have promised anything he wants. All you have is an empty promise. He just squandered 4,000,000 euros of the Tax Payers money and offered reduced rate fares on Air Malta at your expense on a referendum he won't even honour, how do you expect him to honour your job guarantee. I put two and two together and keep coming up with five. I have been saying for the longest time that the government has no business running an airline and lately I was vindicated by his honour MP Tonio Fenech. Please stop saying PM Gonzi promised us, because if he guaranteed you your job, then he has to make that same guarantee to every other employee on this island and you know that he cannot do that. If you think I'm wrong, have a good reputable lawyer check that piece of paper you have in your hand and maybe he can advise you better than I can. Don't shoot the messenger. Like I said before, the only guarantee is taxes and death and in that order.
Mr C Galea
Jul 4th 2011, 14:46
Greece eat your heart out; Where was the Maltese goverment when it was needed most? Who needs the head's of the I. M. F. to supervise what goes on in Europe and even the rest of the world? The Maltese goverment has all the right solutions as everyone deserves a job at a nominal cost to society. Standard & Poor's ratings are after all based on our approach to the kind of everyday problems that we DO resolve in the business world.
Mr edward ciantar
Jul 4th 2011, 14:20
Good call Renald.
Other comments are superfluous.
Mr joe vella
Jul 4th 2011, 14:19
the money wasted in the 500 euro weekly pay rise to the ministers equates to two lost jobs per minister
maybe tonio fenech, having seen the madonna cry, could envisage what joy he would bring to the families of a couple of laid off workers!
now how about that
Mr Lawrence Fenech
Jul 4th 2011, 13:40
Tkellem li ha Euro 500 fil-gimgha mit 2008.
Joseph Laus
Jul 4th 2011, 14:14
Dan hi li stess bniedem li qal li ma ridc CUC malti imexxi l'Air Malta......Imma Ta Fuqu Il PM Gonzi kelli isib CUC Malti biex jaghmel ministru tal- Finanzi ,ghax trid tkun veru CUC biex titkellem kif jitkellem il Cuc Tonio Fenech
Mr J Busuttil
Jul 4th 2011, 19:13
@ Joseph Laus
I sent your comment to a disregarded Nationalist who does not have time to see the Times blogs. I was happy with his reply. Ma x-biza how can I vote PL with this type of attitude when I know what we passed from in the 80's.
Mr renald williams
Jul 4th 2011, 13:22
Times – 18 May 2011 - Air Malta: Ball in EU court
… the government has already said that any Air Malta employees made redundant would be … absorbed within the civil service. …
Nazzjon – 06 Marzu 2008 – Il-qerq lill-ħaddiema – Minn Austin Gatt
... l-Air Malta ... toffri lill-impjegati tagħha serħan tal-moħħ dwar is-sigurta’ ta’ l-impjieg tagħhom ...
Independent – 01 March 2008 – Ministry replies to Labour spokesmen
... The PN in government guaranteed all the jobs at Air Malta ... This commitment was confirmed in the PN electoral programme and in a letter the Prime Minister wrote to Air Malta employees. Nothing ... would change these clear promises, the ministry added. The Nationalist government ... guaranteed all the jobs ...
Letter - LAWRENCE GONZI – PRIM MINISTRU – 25 ta’ Frar 2008 –
... l-Air Malta ... Inghatat garanzija mill-gvern li kull impjegat jibqa’ fl-impjieg ...
– Dejjem tieghek - Lawrence Gonzi – BERGA TA’ KASTILJA, PJAZZA KASTILJA, VALLETTA
Independent – 21 February 2008 – Ministry rebuts MLP ‘allegations’ on Air Malta
... the Nationalist government ... to secure employees’ jobs, the ministry said ...
Clayton Borg
Jul 4th 2011, 14:27
Gonzi PN ihobb jaghmilhom dawn l-affarijiet ta. Dawk min fuq il-gazzetti.
Lilna il- kaccaturi u n-nassaba batilna itri simili d-dar taghna GONZI u FENECH ADAMI, plus hekk kellu il- MIC imhalsa min flus il-poplu biex iqarqu bil-poplu u biex jibatu leaflets li il-kacca u l-insib se jibqa, plus weghda elettorali ukoll.
GONZIPN magna tal-gideb, u jidhaq bin-nies. Issa jghidilna "Iggudikawni fuq dak li naghmel mhux fuq li nghid"
Nispera li dawn in-nies ma jinsewx x'qal u x'ghamel meta tasal l-elezjoni.
Mr Anthony Briffa
Jul 4th 2011, 15:01
A strike at Airmalta now will ground the airline forever, and then we will have the full compliment of the employees at the ETC looking for jobs. Then bye bye early retirement scheme and re-training.The GWU would have achieved a third, first the Pheonicia Hotel, then Sea Malta, and now Airmalta. A bankrupt outfit cannot offer any compensation for lost jobs.
Also, the GWU is still being remembered for the famous strike at the Drydocks, which was ordered in 1970/71, until the June elections, which brougth the drydocks and the Maltese taxpayers fanancially to their knees. It was the begining of 17 years of terror in Malta. At that time the MLP, like today, was waiting on the sidelines and was promising heaven and earth, including full employment in three months - and then they resorted to one labour corpse, under military, after another.
The airmalta employees should never allow the GWU to use them again for its agenda.
Charles Vella
Jul 4th 2011, 15:35
Can anyone please indicate where in its statement, the GWU mentioned that it will be ordering a strike action at Air Malta. GWU had only registered an industrial dispute which, in its strict sens does not mean industrial action. It is quite interesting, if not amazing how hell breaks lose when the GWU registers an industrial dispute while nothing is said about industrial disputes registered by other unions. This is truely an example of how narrow minds work.
Mary Ann Borg
Jul 4th 2011, 13:19
What gives ex-Air Malta employees the right to an alternative job in Malta? Why are they expectiing to be treated differently from employees who work in the private industry? Who says so? To me this is a clear case that those who are going to be dismissed by the company are doing everything possible to ensure the full and final closure of the airline because a strike now will strike Air Malta off for good. They are clearly reasoning that if they are dismissed they don't care about the ones who are kept so the logic is that if I'm dismissed to hell with the company and the remaining employees. Jekk ma nilghabx, inhassar!
Mr Lawrence Fenech
Jul 4th 2011, 13:42
@M.A.Borg.
Why don't you join a union and maybe will see the other side of the picture. PN haseb ghar-rasu u s'hemm jasal.
Mr Vincent Cassar
Jul 4th 2011, 14:32
Ms MA Borg, the employees have a right to alternative employment because before the 2008 election when St Gonzi knew about the situation at AirMalta, a letter was sent to all employees telling them that their jobs are guaranteed! Now he must live up to his promise. Otherwise the term "Pinocchio" serves him well!
It was successive PN governments that have bankrupt Airmalta and not employees fighting for what they were promised by the holier-than-thou GonziPN. I wonder how the Virgin does not appear to him too as it has to TF.
Tridx thallina u fejn ma tifhimx tqarraqx bl-istorja!
Mr Michael Buhagiar
Jul 4th 2011, 14:55
air malta employees have had it so good all these years. Free flights, free freebies, Why should they be more privileged than other workers. Treacherous union.
Ms Maria Vella
Jul 4th 2011, 15:18
totally agree with you Ms. Borg
guido cutajar
Jul 4th 2011, 15:24
Mary Ann Borg... Meta taghmel kuntratt ma xi hadd iehor trid izzommu, jew trid thallas. Jekk haddiem jikser il kuntratt tax xoghol, irid ihallas, mela jekk l-imghallem ma jonorax il kuntratt irid ihallas. Tifhem bil Malti u mhux tpeclaq fix xejn. Morru ixtru xi comic jew xi magazine u enjoy.
James Fenech
Jul 4th 2011, 15:26
Mary you got it all wrong, it's not a matter of "Jekk ma nilghabx nithassar" but the fact that Air Malta is not solving the problem by making 50% of the work force redundant.
If ALL the Air Malta employees work for free, Air Malta will still be making losses because there are big shots milking Air Malta more than dry.
In the private sector you mention, i doubt that the Cheif Executive, Officer, Chairman, directors and Chief Officers would have been let go scot free, even less of a chance would they have received their salary, golden handshakes or performance bonuses.
Mr edward ciantar
Jul 4th 2011, 15:50
Just take a look at the above statements Mary Ann. Should calm you down, don't you think so?
Vicki Azzopardi
Jul 4th 2011, 15:50
Dont strike as you will be digging your own grave and also for all others .....
Charles Busuttil
Jul 4th 2011, 18:54
Ex-Air Malta employees have the right to an alternative job because Lawrence Gonzi guaranteed their employment before the last general elections.
Mary Ann Borg
Jul 4th 2011, 23:51
Iva Sur Fenech, l-ahhar li kont mal Union kien meta kont mal Phoenicia fi zmien Anglu Fenech. Tiftakar?
Mr R ferriggi
Jul 4th 2011, 13:13
ive worked in the private sector all my life, with all the turbulence that this involves.
problems with bosses, problems with lower orders, all kinds of problems.
i never had the comfort of '' job guarantee''.
may i add that finally,,,, all i can remember when they mention airmalta is that in the 80s, me and about a dozen classmates sat for airmalta entry exams and half of us already knew they would pass the exam, and frankly,,,,, some were not really better students than the rest of us who failed.
also,,,, one of the essay questions was about agatha barbara.
all very very sour memories from the 80s.
Mr Albert Dimech
Jul 4th 2011, 14:20
You forgot to mention that these people worked for Airmalta and made millions in profit over the years. The subsequent PN governments, as Albert Mizzi expressed lately, just did nothing to see that the airline stays profitable.
The 80's are 30 years old now, so many others have been employed there ever since, even before the 2008 and many of these were PN supporters. Why didn't you apply after 1987?
Mrs Maya Fenech
Jul 4th 2011, 13:04
Surely Arriva has some jobs on offer.
Mr Raymond Ambrogio
Jul 4th 2011, 14:21
Joke of the day. Good funny comment.
Mr john pizzuto
Jul 4th 2011, 18:25
Why don't you try raising a family on 800Euros a month(net)
And you have the stupidity to call those JOBS.
You must be one of those who raize their children on HOBZ BIZ ZEJT.
Charles J. Buttigieg
Jul 4th 2011, 12:49
Would it be an acceptable idea to employ the surplus pilots as drivers on Arriva? Pun intended.
Ms C. Dimech
Jul 4th 2011, 13:27
hilarious!!! lolololol
Mr Joe Cardona
Jul 4th 2011, 12:47
U ghalina li qeghdin jirregistraw gahx-xoghol u ghandhom aktar minn 45 sena min ser jaqbez ghalina.
Kulhadd ipacpac fil-vojt u hadd ma jaghmel xejn.
Mela ahna m'ghandhiex dritt ghax-xoghol ukoll bhal tal-Air Malta jew illa.
Mr Zarb and GonziPN take notice and take action. Halluna milli thgid l-Unjoni Ewropea l-ewwel nigu ahna imbagha haddiehor.
Mr Angelo Vassallo
Jul 4th 2011, 12:45
@ Mr Mario Busuttil
Did'nt know that alternative employment and/or early retirement schemes have not been excluded in this case by government and may be used to save jobs?
Victor Vella
Jul 4th 2011, 12:40
Dear Tony Zarb et al
Would you fight for me to be given a job guarantee by my employer should I be made redundant?If Yes I would join the union right now,
Charles Busuttil
Jul 4th 2011, 18:58
You should put this question to Lawrence Gonzi!! He guaranteed these jobs not Tony Zarb. Maybe if you try before the next general elections!
Mr Joseph E Briffa
Jul 4th 2011, 12:26
Again GWU puts its foot in it...Isn't the Union aware of EU rules. Good morning Ton!
C. Vella
Jul 4th 2011, 13:30
I really want to hear what the EU has to say about it and not what Tonio Fenech says because recently Tonio Fenech has not been the brightest of the lot in aviation matters.
Mr Mario Busuttil
Jul 4th 2011, 12:22
ALL UNIONS must join GWU for Industrial dispute to all Airmalta Employees and will be one Say......in the past there were Alternative Jobs and early retirement schemes .....
Mr Carmel Farrugia
Jul 4th 2011, 12:52
If any industrial action is taken, Air Malta will finish the same way as Alitalia, Sabena and Swiss Air...... Ask the workers of these three companies what happened when they took industrial action during the re-organisation of the respective airlines.
C. Vella
Jul 4th 2011, 13:27
Mr Carmel Farrugia why don't you ask how the Swiss people feel in losing the best airline in the world at that time and starting from scratch with a really shoddy airline that hardly serves the most basic needs of the Swiss. To be honest the then management of Swiss Air took one of the most idiotic decisions in the history of avaition. Swiss Air should have been saved and restructured but not closed.
As regards Alitalia and Sabena you have mentioned two of the worst airlines from every angle. They are not even remotely comparable to AIrmalta.
Mr Carmel Farrugia
Jul 4th 2011, 14:10
You may be right in what you are saying -- but at the end it is the bottom line that counts. It is easy to have a first class service and make losses. The difficultly is giving a first class service and making profits.....This is the problem. Alitalia-CAI. SN Brussels, and Swiss and now moving forward and have a future if the workers continue collaborating with the managment.
Mr Peter Murray
Jul 4th 2011, 12:09
Dont worry as the GWU will approve bringing over pilots from the UK to fly the planes during the strike
M Bon
Jul 4th 2011, 12:59
Unlike this case, in the bus drivers case, the union is in agreement with Arriva and there were no industrial action directives from the union, so Arriva did the right thing to make sure that the Maltese public gets a reliable service for something of national importance.
Mr Peter Murray
Jul 4th 2011, 13:27
You make a lot of claims about the Union without providing any evidence to support such -as do Arriva also.wHAT IS THE REAL SITUATION AND FACTS?
Ms D. Borg
Jul 4th 2011, 13:37
I think it would be right to get pilots from UK too during the strike. After all, who will feel the brunt of the strike, definitely not the govt., but the people who are workers just like them and whose long awaited break from work might be ruined because of their actions. It will also be another blow on our tourist industry.
Lino Busuttil
Jul 4th 2011, 18:14
Ms D. Borg
....lol, better laugh at some comments here. GWU does not represent Pilots, and Air Malta will have/has a dispute with 4 unions if only redundancies are mentioned with out any show of good leadership on other matters. By the way each Union alone can ground the Airline....and the whole tourism-industry...and the whole air cargo movements.