A delegation from the Union Ħaddiema Magħqudin is expected to meet Air Malta management today to seek assurances for members who work there.

As it does not represent the majority of workers at the national airline, the UĦM does not sit on the steering committee tasked with drawing up a restructuring plan. However, general secretary Gejtu Vella said when contacted the union still represented a good number of workers whose livelihood was at stake. He said the union wanted to discuss the situation involving its members, adding workers were “on edge” and mulling their future, with almost all of them worried about loans and other financial commitments. The national airline is considering shedding half its 1,200-strong workforce to be able to operate profitably. The government said it was taking measures to ensure no one would lose their job, even through redeployment with government departments, which have vacancies. The government is planning to employ as many redundant Air Malta employees as possible but this does not mean all of them will be redeployed with the public sector.

The General Workers’ Union, which represents the absolute majority of workers at the beleaguered airline, will be calling a meeting for its members today.

The restructuring plan is at “an advanced stage” and the government has embarked on one-to-one meetings with union representatives to discuss the airline’s future in more detail. Meetings were held with the GWU and the unions representing cabin crew, pilots and the airline’s engineers.

The national carrier experienced severe losses over the past two years and the prospects for this financial year, which ends in March, are looking bleak. Late last year, the European Commission gave the government the go-ahead to pump €52 million in emergency aid into the airline. Approval was given on condition the airline was restructured.