The General Workers’ Union has registered an industrial dispute with Air Malta after the government declined to offer alter-native employment to redundant workers.
The union had given the government until the end of June to make a formal declaration that alternative employment would be on offer apart from voluntary retirement schemes but this was not forthcoming.
According to the ailing airline’s restructuring plan, 511 workers from all sections will have to lose their job. The government is pledging about €10 million to finance voluntary retirement schemes.
The union said yesterday it informed the airline’s management it was registering an industrial dispute.
Air Malta reacted saying the industrial dispute was “out of order” because management had already agreed with the GWU to meet this week.
“Air Malta cannot guarantee jobs since it is a commercial concern and so it will be registering its disagreement with the GWU through a judicial protest to be filed in court tomorrow morning (today),” the airline said, adding it reserved the right to take further legal action to protect its interests.
The airline said it would be starting negotiations with all four unions represented at Air Malta today and cautioned them against talk of industrial action, which was already harming the airline.
The government is insisting alternative employment could be considered as a form of state aid, which the EU Commission could turn down.
The Finance Ministry said yesterday the union’s stand was “irresponsible” and went against the workers’ interest because it threatened the approval of the restructuring plan, which would save almost 800 jobs at the beleaguered airline.
However, the GWU said it would continue to insist workers had to be offered alternative employment to make an informed decision about their future.
The industrial dispute came a day before pilots are expected to vote on whether to ground Air Malta’s fleet in protest on July 16. The Airline Pilots’ Association is convening an extraordinary general meeting today during which pilots will be asked to endorse a resolution to strike. By law, 70 per cent of all pilots have to agree.
Pilots have already said they would be holding a national protest in Valletta on July 15.