Air Malta reform talks will continue, GWU says

Despite the failure of negotiation talks between Air Malta and Alitalia, the General Workers’ Union remains committed to discussing the necessary reforms in the national airline to keep it afloat in the competitive aviation sector, the union said in a statement.

Last Friday, tourism minister Edward Zammit Lewis announced that Air Malta had called off negotiations with Alitalia and was now pursuing “other leads”, with contacts already established with other local and foreign parties interested in a strategic partnership with the national airline.

“After the news that negations had fallen through between Air Malta and Alitalia, the General Workers’ Union will remain committed to work towards a stronger airline and will continue to guarantee employment for its workers, ant to the thousands of others that depend on its operations,” GWU said.

The GWU said that under the current situation, a strong strategic partner should be found to secure investment and a long future for Air Malta.

It added that it will continue discussions to improve workers' conditions. Talks that had been initiated, it said, should continue.

In the coming days, the GWU will be meeting the central committee and the many groups of Air Malta workers it represented in order to continue to spread information and continuous contact with its members, the union said.