Talks between Air Malta, the GWU and the Union of Cabin Crew on the airline's restructuring talks have reached an impasse, the airline said this evening.
It added that it will itself hold information meetings for the workers on the restructuring proposals and the proposed early retirement schemes.
The airline said it has been negotiating with the two unions in good faith for months but had not been able to conclude an agreement on a package of measures to support the airline's restructuring.
Air Malta Chief Executive Peter Davies said: "We have been trying to reach an agreement for months and the lack of agreement is now holding up the restructuring of the airline. So now we are going to explain the proposed restructuring agreements, including the redundancy scheme details,
directly to our staff so that when they do vote through their union, they have all the information they need to take an informed decision."
Mr Davies added that, notwithstanding the fact that negotiations with these unions were at an impasse, the unions' executives had agreed to take the package of measures to their members, albeit without endorsement from them.
Air Malta said it will invite its staff to attend information sessions as early as next week.
"We want the employees to know what the company's offer is, what their future is, and the consequences of not agreeing to the package of change measures," said Mr Davies.
"We have put a lot of effort into getting fair and reasonable payout schemes for staff so they can be properly compensated for their loss of employment – the offers we have proposed are generous and treat people fairly. In return, we have requested improved work practices and efficiencies – such as rosters that support our flight schedule. Everyone needs to understand that we are in the
service industry. Our customers expect that and we must fly at their convenience, not ours".
The company said that if the packages being offered are not accepted by employees, they will be withdrawn and the necessary headcount reduction will have to be achieved by following the statutory redundancy procedures and payments.
"This course of action has been fully endorsed by the Board of Directors," it said.
"We don't want to go down this path, we really don't, but we have no other
option, Mr Davies said.
"We had earmarked the 1st August as the date on which the schemes would be issued. We could have accelerated the process but the company was responsible enough and willing to extend the negotiations by over three more months to get the best possible package for our employees. We have to implement the restructuring measures to turn the airline around and we cannot afford to delay matters any longer."
The airline said that some of the issues that could not be agreed upon demonstrated that some people had not yet realised the dire state the airline is in and that it must change to survive.
"Employees need to understand that a 'no vote' will force the company to take alternative measures to turn the airline's performance around."
The company said that this did not apply to the Engineering Union executive with whom an agreement in principle had been reached.
"We have reached an agreement in principle with the Engineers' Union executive and they will be taking it to their members to vote on shortly. They understand the need for change and greater efficiency and the agreement makes our high quality engineering operations even more efficient," Mr Davies said.
In relation to the pilots the company said that there was an awareness of the need for change and recent discussions were moving in the right direction.
UNUSUAL INCIDENT AT GATWICK AIRPORT
Meanwhile, an Air Malta flight from London Gatwick to Malta was delayed for several hours this evening when an emergency chute was deployed accidentally.
In view of the incident, 30 passengers on the aircraft had to be disembarked in order to maintain the ratio of 50 passengers per emergency door. The passengers have been taken to Manchester for their flight to Malta.