After two weeks on the warpath, the union representing Air Malta pilots is convinced Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi has the political will to save the airline and this is what led to the strike planned for tomorrow being lifted.

“We did not back down but after meeting with the Prime Minister I felt that he wants to save the company,” Airline Pilots Association president Dominic Azzopardi said yesterday when asked what led to the change of heart.

Alpa stepped up the pressure on Tuesday when it gave notice of suspension of service to the Director of Employment and Industrial Relations. The strike was scheduled for tomorrow after the pilots overwhelmingly approved the action during an extraordinary general meeting.

Alpa was under immense pressure from hoteliers, employer bodies and other unions not to go ahead with the strike, with the government warning strike action risked bankrupting the airline.

Capt. Azzopardi would not give any details of the two-hour long meeting on Wednesday with Dr Gonzi, Finance Minister Tonio Fenech and the airline’s chief executive and chairman. He would only say there was “a genuine commitment” to implement the suggestions the pilots have been making.

“Eight months passed since restructuring talks started and nothing was ever done on the issues we have been flagging but now Dr Gonzi promised us that the company will take action. If action is not taken then we will have to take action ourselves but we will give them time.”

Capt. Azzopardi denied that pilots’ salaries were on the agenda and insisted they were never an issue in the dispute.

Pilots had been asking for third party contracts, including those with Malta International Airport, to be reviewed before any redundancies were made. They said such contracts cost the airline a lot of money.

When asked whether the government had committed itself to tackle MIA charges, Capt. Azzopardi replied that Dr Gonzi “understood” the problems raised by the pilots.

“Our actions were intended to save the company and, for the first time, the government showed the political will to do so. We do not want a situation where the government gives money to Air Malta to indirectly subsidise other contractors who make money off the airline,” Capt. Azzopardi said.

News that pilots had lifted strike action was welcomed yesterday by the Malta Employers’ Association, the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Enterprise and tourism operators.

A protest organised by the Forum of trade unions and the General Workers’ Union as a sign of solidarity with Air Malta workers today is still going ahead. Pilots, cabin crew and engineers are members of Forum but the Association of Airline Engineers has yet to decide whether it will participate.

ksansone@timesofmalta.com

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