GWU will stand steadfast against Air Malta staff cuts

The General Workers’ Union will stand firm against the laying off of Air Malta employees, its secretary general Josef Bugeja said.

Bugeja told the press that negotiations on a new collective agreement for the national airline’s staff have yet to begin, but that the GWU will not accept staff redundancies.

“It is far too early to give more details though, as negotiations have not yet begun,” he said.

Forum president Kevin Bonello added that the only positive for Air Malta’s workers so far is that they are no longer facing uncertainty over the airline’s future.

The government announced last week that it will sell 49% of Air Malta’s shares to Alitalia, the Italian flag carrier, hence ending months of speculation over the national airline’s future.

Alitalia forms part of the satellite of airlines owned by Abu Dhabi based airline Etihad Airways, which has been in advanced talks with government over an equity investment in the ailing Air Malta since November 2015 as revealed by MaltaToday.

The deal wil see Air Malta will benefit from a forthcoming €400 million investment at Alitalia, as well as from its vast network and airport slots.

Tourism minister Edward Zammit Lewis said that talks with unions will continue as planned with President Emeritus George Abela and Air Malta chairperson Maria Micallef co-chairing the committee that has been entrusted by government to negotiate the new collective agreements with the workers’ representatives.

“We’re committed to ensuring that the Air Malta employees have a future,” Zammit Lewis insisted.