The row between Air Malta and the Union of Cabin Crew escalated yesterday, when the union issued a work-to-rule directive.

Air Malta flight attendants who are union members will not do any duties beyond the minimum required in their contracts, until further notice.

In a statement, union president Noel Merceica said the directive was issued to protect its members, adding that the union wanted to solve “multiple roster irregularities” through arbitration.

When contacted, he explained the major problem was its members being placed on standby very close to their next duty.

There were also instances of members being given late-night standby duties that affected their off-days.

He said the work-to-rule directive was issued after the union was “faced with conditions” that it deemed not to be necessary, before a planned meeting with the director of Labour and Industrial Relations.

Mr Merceica said the union was willing to suspend the dispute if Air Malta retracted the contents of an internal memo it sent to all cabin crew, which he said contained false information aimed to discredit union officials.