Updated Saturday.
Air Malta pilots have been instructed by their union to forgo their uniforms as a sign of protest in a dispute which boiled over this week when the airline cancelled pilots' leave.
In a statement, the union, ALPA, said its members will report for duty without jacket, tie and cap.
No disruption in flight operations is foreseen.
The union said it officially registered an industrial dispute with Air Malta yesterday following what it said was the airline’s reluctance to abide by negotiated agreements.
It said several attempts have been made to protect its members and their rights as expressly mentioned in the Collective Agreement, however procrastination from Air Malta’s management left it with no other option than to file this dispute.
The key issues, it said, were about safeguarding the pension of its members and clarifying a clause in the collective agreement regarding computation of service.
However, Air Malta’s procrastination was also manifested in other issues that affected the rights and conditions of employment.
"During the past year the crew compliment of Air Malta was reduced by 16 pilots and for the last few months most of its pilots have been working on an excessive amount of off days; this will inevitably lead to crew fatigue. This also demonstrates that there is crew shortage, something which ALPA pointed out to the management on numerous occasions, both before releasing pilots on early retirement schemes and before releasing pilots to work for other airlines," the union said.
It said this crew shortage was probably the reason why recently pilots were denied approved leave slots for August and September, in a breach of the collective agreement.
In announcing its limited industrial action, the union said it is not its intention to affect Air Malta’s passengers. However it warned it would take other action if necessary.
AIR MALTA READY FOR TALKS
In a statement yesterday (Friday) Air Malta said it was ready to meet the pilots to discuss their grievances, but said issues would not be resolved through unrealistic deadlines by the pilots' union.
Reacting to a threat of industrial action by the union over cancelled September leave, the airline said it remained committed to discuss all open points with ALPA at management level in a comprehensive and constructive manner.
It said it has offered to hold a meeting on Tuesday.
"However, some open matters cannot be resolved to unrealistic prescribed deadlines from ALPA, but rather need time and co-operation to reach constructive and mutually-agreed outcomes."
The airline said it regretted ALPA’s 'inappropriate' sabre-rattling at this time.
"There is no justification for any threat for an industrial dispute on these issues. Not for the first time, ALPA is threatening a dispute at the height of the summer season, which can only damage Air Malta and the broader tourism industry across the Maltese Islands." Peter Davies, Air Malta CEO said.
“I cannot allow for the hard work and effort put in by many employees for the ALPA executive to ruin it on the premise of malicious disinformation. The airline, the country and the tourist industry does not deserve these threats. “