Air Malta workers were presented with a Hobson’s choice and could not exactly refuse the restructuring package, an employee who has been with the airline for 24 years said yesterday.

Conceding that the early retirement schemes and offers of alternative employment with the government were not far from the workers’ demands, he said that those opting to remain with the company faced hard times ahead.

“They are facing a situation of modern slavery; they are being squeezed,” the employee, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said. He said he was voicing his colleagues’ frustration.

One of the examples he gave was the clause specifying that management could call in an employee to work for a minimum of three hours, which he described as unacceptable.

He wished there had been more time to discuss working conditions for those who chose to stay. However, he added, the Prime Minister issued a stern warning last week when he said Air Malta’s future depended on the “prudent and courageous cooperation of stakeholders”.

“We felt threatened that the airline would close after that speech and it left us little space for manoeuvre. The staff is sad about this,” the worker said, adding that this was why 92 per cent of his colleagues voted in favour of the restructuring package.

He added that employees aged 40 and over were considering staying on with Air Malta because it would be hard to compete in the labour market with the younger generation who held university degrees.

“In my days, O and A levels were considered good qualifications, now they mean nothing. But even for those who, like me, are considering staying on, what guarantee is there that the airline will remain open in two years’ time? It’s not an easy choice.”

However, two other employees who have worked for the airline for 10 years, were more positive about the rescue plan, probably due to their young age and the possibility of availing themselves of future opportunities. They were satisfied with the deal they got as part of the restructuring plan, saying they did not feel as though it had been imposed on them.

They said that, although they knew the airline’s days were ­numbered unless it tackled its problems, they were not under any pressure to accept the offer.

One said he had not yet decided what he would do and which option he would go for. He had to discuss it with his family. He was tempted to go for the voluntary redundancy scheme through which he estimated he would pocket about €17,000.

The other employee has already made up his mind and will be accepting alternative employment. With his job guaranteed, he said, he would put his mind at rest that he could continue to maintain his family.