Update 5pm - Gozo Tourism Association calls for restraint
Air Malta chairwoman Maria Micallef has described the threat by pilots to intensify industrial action as “callous” because it is putting jobs at risk.
Meanwhile Times of Malta is today publishing details of the pilots' wage demands, which equate to an increase of some €50,000 each.
In a Talking Point appearing in the newspaper today, Ms Micallef argues that the pilots’ association’s attitude is “unreasonable and self-serving”.
She writes as pilots are obeying their union’s directive to go to work without jacket and cap in protest over delays to conclude a collective agreement.
The Airline Pilots Association warned last week it could intensify industrial action, including delaying flights, if their demands for better working conditions are not met.
Ms Micallef admits using strong words with “a heavy heart” as she warns that crippling industrial action at the height of summer could lose the airline more than €500,000 a day. “A week will take us back to square one. Years of hard work to balance the books crushed in a week,” she writes.
Describing pilots as the “best paid and best treated” segment of Air Malta’s workforce, Ms Micallef says it is difficult for her to remain silent because their actions could harm hundreds of families that earn a living from the company.
“All because pilots, who are already handsomely paid, want more and can’t employ a fraction of the patience that our taxpayers, partners, suppliers and others have employed for months.”
PILOTS' SALARY CLAIM EXPLAINED
The Sunday Times of Malta reported yesterday that the pilots' demand better work conditions would equate to an increase of €50,000 in their take-home pay.
The Airline Pilots Association issued a denial but the newspaper stood by its story.
Times of Malta is today giving more details of what pilots are asking for as they threaten industrial action in the summer months.
The number of Air Malta pilots was 122, each with an average take-home pay of €93,000 per year.
The airline has 118 active pilots, two pilots on long sick leave and another two on unpaid leave.
The financial demands pilots are making fall broadly into two categories: a 30 per cent increase in the basic salary and guaranteed minimum bonuses.
The increase in the basic salary, which pilots want to be backdated to January 1 this year, would yield an average salary increase per pilot of €28,000 annually.
READ: Time to do the decent thing, Air Malta chairperson tells pilots
The difference to €50,000 comes from changes to the system by which pilots are awarded units every time they fly. These units are translated into monetary bonuses at the end of the month.
Sources said pilots are asking for several changes to this system, including the introduction of a guaranteed minimum number of points per month, irrespective of how much they fly.
The overall package proposed by Alpa would add €6 million to the €11 million Air Malta already pays its pilots.
The increase would cripple the airline that has failed to return to profitability after a painful and expensive five-year restructuring process.
Pilots have threatened to step up industrial action, including flight delays, if their demands are not met.
The sabre rattling comes at a time when the government is in talks with Alitalia, over the sale of a 49 per cent stake.
Industry sources said the demands pilots were making would put them almost at par with their counterparts at Alitalia. However, they insisted any comparison would be misleading since Air Malta did not fly long haul and pilots did not have overnight stays like Alitalia pilots.
MHRA Appeal
The Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association in a statement appealed to the pilots' union to act with prudence and refrain from short-sighted actions or threats that may lead to damaging the confidence of the tourist traveling to Malta.
"MHRA reminds ALPA that the consequences of their actions, motivated by requests for further improved financial and working conditions, are already threatening the industry and livelihood of thousands. This is unacceptable," the association said.
Gozo Tourism Association calls for prudence
The Gozo Tourism Association backed the MHRA's calls, saying industrial action at this time of year would have "irreparable consequences" on the local tourism industry. It called on ALPA to "be prudent" in its decision and said it hoped all parties would find an amicable solution.