The pilots’ union has registered an industrial dispute with Air Malta, claiming the new training facilities situated at the airline’s new offices are not up to standard, the company said yesterday.
In a letter to the airline, the union’s executive committee also objected to the use of a new briefing room currently being refurbished as part of an exercise intended to reduce costs.
The development comes barely three months after the conclusion of a new collective agreement and days after the airline inaugurated its new head office at the Sky Parks Business Centre.
The company has now challenged the union executive committee’s claims and invited ALPA to provide proof to support its claims, Air Malta said in a statement.
The airline said it cannot understand the motivations behind the union’s actions especially since in the past months certain members of this committee embarked on a campaign claiming not enough was done by the company to reduce costs.
“Yet, when concrete action is taken, ALPA is the first one to object to any changes being done.”
Air Malta said the pilots’ executive committee showed a particular inability to work constructively with management defined by general opposition to anything that disturbs the status quo.
In a statement later, ALPA said Air Malta conveniently failed to mention that the training rooms are located at Sky Parks’ Level 0, which effectively is situated below ground level.
These rooms are completely bereft of any natural ventilation or windows. Since crews will be required to spend up to 7 hours daily in these rooms during courses, ALPA has requested that an air quality report be carried out.
Regarding the relocation of the briefing room, after an onsite inspection of the room in question, the pilots deemed the room inadequate and too small to cater for crews’ briefing needs.
“While ALPA has not been actively involved in decisions as had been promised, we are certainly not resistant to change and cost cutting. In the last few months we have co-operated and offered our full assistance to the company in other matters. However ALPA will not tolerate a take it or leave it attitude at the detriment of its members.”