The presidents of two major trade unions, representing Air Malta pilots and teachers, have decided to call it a day.
The outspoken chief of the Airline Pilots Association (Alpa), Dominic Azzopardi, said he would resign from March 1, 13 months before his term was due to expire in April 2018. He said he felt it was the right time to make space for a new president.
The news came within hours after Malta Union of Teachers head Kevin Bonello made a similar announcement. Mr Bonello announced that he would not be seeking re-election once his term expired.
He cited health reasons as having spurred his decision. He could not be reached for comment yesterday.
In a letter to union members, Mr Bonello said he would also be ending his involvement in the Forum Unions Maltin, an umbrella organisation in which the teachers’ union is one of the largest members.
He has been involved in trade unionism for the past 12 years and said it was time for him to step aside and make space for new blood. He also informed them that he was not quitting to take up a political appointment. Mr Azzopardi said he was calling it a day on trade unionism after seven years at the helm of the association representing pilots, which were larger in number then than now. He said he felt that he had given his all to the association and believed that it was now up to his successors to build on the work that he had done.
Mr Azzopardi, known as a person who does not mince his words, said he felt it would be better not to comment when asked where he wanted to see Air Malta in the near and distant future. “It is better if I leave the comments to my successor, as whatever I say might hurt people. I prefer leaving it at that,” Mr Azzopardi said.
Mr Azzopardi was investigated in July 2012 after he was alleged to have caused a 30-minute delay of a Milan-Malta flight. He allegedly arrived late with his family and gave unauthorised instructions for the check-in to be reopened and for the passengers’ air bridge to be reattached so they could make it to the flight.
Mr Azzopardi denied these allegations, and although a board of inquiry was organised to investigate, its findings were never made public.