Air Malta ‘close to deal’ with GWU

Air Malta yesterday announced it was close to finalising retirement schemes for staff represented by the General Workers’ Union (GWU), only for the union to condemn the statement minutes later.

The airline said the proposed agreement covered voluntary redundancy and early retirement schemes and the resulting restructuring in the number of employees required.

It added that “it is premature for either party to discuss particulars and the General Workers’ Union is bound to first hold a meeting for its members to discuss the proposed schemes and the changes on other issues”.

However, minutes after the statement was released, the GWU said that to date there was no final agreement and only if this was reached would the union declare it.

The union condemned the fact that the airline had issued such a statement without its approval and before any amendments could be made.

Air Malta is undergoing a make-or-break restructuring process after the government pumped in €52 million last year to prevent it from going bankrupt.

The European Commission allowed the cash injection to go ahead on condition that a restructuring plan is implemented. The government submitted the plan in May but the Commission is expected to take until the end of the year to evaluate it.

The GWU represents about 800 employees within various staff categories at the airline.

Discussions with the other three unions recognised by Air Malta were ongoing and an-nouncements on the state of negotiations would be made as progress was made, Air Malta said.