Transport Malta has taken its managers by surprise by revising the way it will pay them their performance bonus, with many complaining their union has not been consulted over the move.

In a circular it sent to its managers last week, TM said from this year, the bonus will not be paid in full with the December pay.

Instead, only half the eligible bonus will be paid this year and the rest, if applicable, will be paid by the end of February.

“It has been decided that with the December salary, the authority pays out half the maximum potential performance bonus which an employee may be entitled to receive.”

Although employees will not be losing anything, changes which affect their take-home pay should be communicated well in advance

The HR department informed employees that the rest of the payment, if any, will be paid by the end of February and only after the performance appraisals are carried out and targets for the year are agreed upon.

Sources said that, although these changes were made according to the provisions of the collective agreement, many employees did not appreciate the late decision “as many had already planned what to do with the bonus during the Christmas period”.

A spokesman for the Union Ħaddiema Magħqudin said the union would have preferred that the management at TM consult it over the change.

“We were not consulted over these changes, which will affect our members.

“Although employees will not be losing anything, changes which affect the take-home pay of employees should be communicated well in advance,” the spokesman said.