Members of the Airline Pilots’ Association are following a work to rule because of pending disputes with Air Malta.

The association (ALPA – Malta) and Air Malta signed a collective agreement in January last year.

ALPA said in a statement that in view of the precarious financial situation Air Malta had been facing, and to help promote economic recovery, it had agreed to forfeit arrears and delay the commencement of the increase in salaries to April.

However, Air Malta kept dragging its feet when it came to implementing what was signed and sealed.

The association said there were are numerous pending disputes ranging from the issuing of incorrect rosters and procrastination on reaching an agreement on an annual vacation leave policy to more serious situations such as the airline’s refusal to purchase a proper loss of license insurance for pilots older than 55.

Air Malta had also proposed a Health and Safety Handbook pertaining to the field of work, but this had not yet been distributed.

ALPA said that for the past 18 months, it proceeded with utmost caution and refrained from resorting to drastic industrial action. But the situation continued to deteriorate.

Following a vote during its annual general meeting, 92 per cent expressed themselves in favour of a work to rule.

Pilots, ALPA said, would continue to fully respect their contractual obligations without going beyond the call of duty.