Updated: Pilots to take final decision on strike next Wednesday
Demonstration in Valletta on Friday
Pilots will take their final decision on whether or not to strike on July 16 on Wednesday, a news conference was told this morning.
Domenic Azzopardi, from the Airline Pilots Association, said pilots expected black on white the government's committment on its true plans regarding issues related to Malta International Airport for the reduction of charges, proposals for low cost carriers and new routes.
If the government did not respond, the strike would go ahead.
The news conference, organised by the Forum, also included the participation of the three other unions representing Air Malta workers - the General Workers' Union, the Union of Cabin Crew and the Association of Airline Engineers,
Forum president John Bencini said that a demonstration in support of Air Malta workers is being held in Valletta next Friday at 6 p.m. Participants will meet at St George's Square from 5.30 p.m. and they will walk to Castille where the workers would be addressed.
Air Malta wants to shed 511 workers.
The demonstration, he said, was aimed at saving the airline and not against it. However, workers should not be used as a scapegoat for management and for contracts with third parties which had drained the airline.
The four unions appealed to all workers and other unions to take part.
He said that as the management was having talks with the four unions individually, the way forward was still unclear.
Mr Azzopardi said his union had long appealed for the renegotiation of third party contracts and contracts with low cost carriers.
A pilots' proposal was that government tenders could include a condition that for airlines to benefit they would also have to carry cargo. This was something low cost carriers did not do.
All unions appealed to management to be transparent in negotiations, provide all information requested and engage in negotiations rather than come with a fait accompli.
When asked if any figures had been given as regards to the number of workers being reduced, Mr Azzopardi said that he learned from PBS that Air Malta planned to axe 30 pilots.
GWU general secretary Tony Zarb said that when his union asked the management, it said it was not in a position to answer.
Mr Bencini said that the airline's new CEO, Peter Davies, was not in Malta Fridays to Mondays.