GWU asks workers to vote on Air Malta proposals
Members of the General Workers' Union who are employees of Air Malta were this evening invited by the union to vote on a package of proposals made by the airline, including an early retirement scheme and new work practices.
The workers were addressed by union general secretary Tony Zarb, a week after Air Malta said that an impasse had been reached in talks. The airline had warned that unless agreement is reached, it may be forced to resort to forced redundancies.
Tonight's meeting was closed to the press .
The prime minister said on Saturday that the early retirement schemes are similar to what the government had offered the workers of Malta Shipyards.
The GWU represents some 800 of Air Malta's workforce of 1,300.
Air Malta last week reported agreement, or progress in talks with unions representing pilots, cabin crew and engineers.
Air Malta wants to reduce its workforce by 500 and introduce new work practices including greater flexibility, in an effort to cut its costs.
Mr Zarb said when contacted that the GWU had explained what Air Malta was proposing and what stage the talks had reached. He said there appeared to be no scope for further talks, and the union would abide by the workers' decision.
People present for this evening's meeting said that reaction was mixed, with the meeting characterised by a large number of questions asked to the union officials.
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j brincat
Nov 22nd 2011, 07:46
@Mary Ann Borg
"Umbghad Joseph u l-bqijja jridu jkunu jafu il-minuti tal Cabinet"
X'ghandu x'jaqsam. Qed thallat Insomma, biex tkun ghidt xi haga!.
(jb)
J Farrugia
Nov 21st 2011, 22:57
Mary, we all know your colours so cut the crap, what goes on in the govt is everyone's business , the union meeting is for employees and union members, might i add trying to save their jobs your govt messed up with all its blue eyed boys.
M. Micallef
Nov 21st 2011, 22:53
Dear Ms Borg,
I would suggest not to rush into conclusions, not even the CEO address was open to the press either. These are very hard times for these workers. I know several of them and your insensitivity surely hurts. Let them decide what's left for their future in peace. You cannot keep flogging a dead horse. We got your message that you loath Air Malta, GWU, PL etc. Frankly this is beyond the politics that poisoned the airline so a bit of discression would be appreciated.
To the workers at Air Malta, think before you act, remember your loved ones.
Andreas Moser
Nov 21st 2011, 22:03
Please don't go on strike!
Victor Vella
Nov 21st 2011, 21:56
Why was the press excluded? I would have expected that the GWU being a free non aligned union would welcome the democratic freedom of expression and invite the press, but then the speakers would not have been able to distort the facts to the workers, the union officials would not have been able to twist and turn the discussions, and they would not have been able to guide the workers.Remember that if the workers accept what Airmalta is offering then this would be a blow to the GWU.
Deo Catania
Nov 22nd 2011, 09:28
You got it all wrong. If there's somebody who twists facts is your useless Gonzi.
Paul Mallia
Nov 22nd 2011, 12:26
Sur Vella, Jiena membru tal-GWU u ili hafna snin (kwazi mindu waqghet zokorti fuq ix-xoghol) bhala membru. Jien tal-fehma li kemm il-darba trid titkellem dwar xi haga li tolqot lilek, il-familja tieghek, hobzok u l-futur tieghek, m'hemmx ghalfejn ikun jaf il-poplu kollu ta' Malta u Ghawdex x'qed jigri u/jew x'ghadda minghalija dwar dan is-suggett. Jien ilni nahdem l-Air Malta minn meta fethet u ghalhekk nahseb ghandi interess qawwi li niddiskuti mal-membri kollha l-ohra tal-GWU li ghalija huma l-unici nies li jistghu jibbackjawni u li maghhom irrid naqsam l-ugigh (u kull haga ohra li ser iddawwrilna l-futur taghna) tieghi. Ghalhekk, jekk joghbok iprova kkummenta aktar bil-ghaqal u tindahalx fl-affarijiet personali taghna. Grazzi Habib.
Mary Ann Borg
Nov 21st 2011, 20:47
Umbghad Joseph u l-bqijja jridu jkunu jafu il-minuti tal Cabinet. U dawn, lanqas il-media ma thalliet tidhol biex tkun tista' tirraporta x'intqal mill kelliema tal union. Trasparenza pinna.
A Dimech
Nov 21st 2011, 21:04
Mary Ann - nahseb li l'haddiema ghandhom dritt jitkelmu fil-privat mal-Union taghhom. Nahseb li kieku inti kont minn flokkhom kont tamel l'istess.
Victor Vella
Nov 21st 2011, 22:31
Imbaghad jghidu li f`Malta m`hawx gdur. X`ghandu x`jaqsam il-gvern mal-GWU. Sinjura il-gvern nhalsu ghalih jien u int bit-taxxi taghna u ghadna dritt inkunu nafu x1qed jghidu il-kabinett. Il-Gvern mhux entita privata izda entita publika. Mela fil-kunsilli lokali kollhox irid jigi ippublikat ghal dak li jinghad waqt il-laqghat u fil-kabinett meta ghandek issues iktar importanti generali ghal pajjiz kollhox fil-maghluq. L-union hija entita` privata u mhux se toqghodtghid ma` l-erba` t`irjieh dak li ntqal. L-istakeholders tal-GWU huma il-membri li jhalsu il-mizata u dawk tal-kabinett huwa il-poplu kollu. Int imghad qed issemi it-tranparenza. Daqs kemm qal Gonzi li ha minn fuq id-demm tal-poplu 600€16c fil-gimgha. Li ma kienx il-Lejber Party kieku ma konna nafu xejn b`dan l-iskandlu nazzjonali. Mela sinjura Maria Anna Borg oqghod attenta dwar it-trasparenza ghax jekk int tkun trasparenti Joseph jew jitkaza` bik jew jiflik minn fuq s`isfel u God only knows where he can find il-pinna.
Mario Grima
Nov 22nd 2011, 01:39
Il-minuti tal-kabinet kienu ghand Paul Borg Olivier u ghalhekk il-poplu ghandu dritt ikun jaf x'fihom. Pero, il PN ma jafx jaghmel distinzjoni bejn partit u gvern. Il-partit huwa maghmul minn inqas minn nofs il-popolazzjoni u il-gvern huwa suppost ta kullhadd. U int sinjura/sinjorina qed taghmel l-istess zball ghax il-GWU ma ghanda x'taqsam ma l-ebda partit. Mela insejt x'jaghmlu il-UHM?
joe muscat
Nov 22nd 2011, 07:43
Qieghda thallat il-hass mal kabocci , x`ghandu x`jaqsam Joe Muscat mal GWU .
edward ciantar
Nov 22nd 2011, 10:01
titkellimx fejn ma tifimx, bir-rispett kollu. Din kienet bicca fil-maghluq ghal haddiema biss! Ghax il-haddiema iddahlu f'saram li ma ghazlux huma! Kieku dahlu jirrapportaw ma kienx ikun hemm tahdiidiet u kummenti liberi mil-haddiema.