Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/717204
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 21 AUGUST 2016 2 News SITUATION VACANT The Gozo Technical Diving Center Requires the services of a full time highly qualified scuba diving instructor If interested contact: Tom Steiner on 79009565 or Audrey Cudel on 79009575 Working Hours: 8:00 - 17:00 Excess cabin crew must go, Air Malta tells union CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 But Air Malta responded to the cabin crew union action by launch- ing a new recruitment drive for part-time cabin crew members, and a voluntary early retirement scheme now tagged at some €6 million. Union boss Noel Mercieca yesterday told MaltaToday he wanted a written guarantee that salaries and jobs would be guaranteed in return for higher flexibility and productivity from cabin crew workers. "There is too much uncer- tainty among us. We don't even know how many planes will be flying in the next months, which is why we want written commit- ments. We don't mind flexibility as long as we have a guarantee of job security." At present Air Malta is carry- ing an extra member of cabin crew on each flight, even though the workload, such as the distri- bution of free meals, has been made lighter with free meals replaced by an ungenerous ba- guette. While Edward Zammit Lewis made it clear that nobody would lose their job or pay package, he indicated to the union that excess staff will have to either work with another airline, or take advantage of the voluntary retirement scheme – tagged at a cost of €6 million. The government also wants cabin crew members to give up certain privileges, such as free transport, and accept to take di- rections from the management. A government spokesperson insisted it was ready to guaran- tee jobs and take-home pay for cabin crew, if this is backed by an increase in productivity. "The same was offered to ALPA," the spokesperson said, referring to a breakthrough with the pilots un- ion that will see pilots fly longer than 55 hours a month to match their salary demands. Pilots will accept new working conditions which are according to EASA (European Air Safety Agency) criteria, and a volun- tary retirement scheme for any excess pilots. "An important part of what the government is asking for is that management takes over deci- sions related to operations and work practices during flights, in order to avoid situations such as those which have happened re- cently," the spokesperson said, listing examples of air stewards refusing to cooperate with air- line demands. These included a refusal to warm up the airline's comple- mentary baguette served to pas- sengers, a refusal to distribute promo cards, a refusal to serve a cake to a passenger who had flown with Air Malta for 35 years, and a refusal to serve a hot meal on a Malta Football As- sociation flight for the national team and for the Lazio football team on a charter flight. The spokesperson said the air- line would not hesitate to retract the early retirement scheme if union directives persist. Under the work-to-rule direc- tives, the UCC has told cabin crew not to work on their off days. This means that if a cabin crew member calls in sick, the man- agement will not be able to find a replacement and therefore flights might need to be can- celled. The management can then ask a part-timer to replace the sick cabin crew member, but accord- ing to their collective agreement the other full-time cabin crew members can refuse to work with the part-timers. "This can lead to the flight not having enough cabin crew members and therefore having to be cancelled," a government spokesperson said. "UCC are sending text messages to mem- bers encouraging them to refuse to work on their off days." mvella@mediatoday.com.mt Air Malta not a cash cow, MHRA warns cabin crew union MATTHEW AGIUS THE Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association (MHRA) warned Air Malta's unions against industrial action, urging them to "use the force of argument not the argu- ment of force" to put forward their concerns. This came after the national air- line's Union of Cabin Crew (UCC) filed industrial action with Air Mal- ta on Friday. "Air Malta is not a cash cow. Em- ployees must understand that roles, responsibilities and productiv- ity levels must continue to feature high on the agenda of a sustainable Air Malta business model," MHRA president Tony Zahra said in a statement issued yesterday. "This however applies also to the government in seeking the best ar- rangement for Air Malta with po- tential strategic partners. Air Malta is not a national liability but rather a very important asset which must be valued as such," Zahra said. UCC filed work-to-rule industrial action, a day after the government reached an agreement with the Air- line Pilots' Association (ALPA) fol- lowing lengthy negotiations over a new collective agreement. Similarly, ALPA had previously announced industrial action so as to pressure Air Malta into releasing crucial details about the proposed deal that will see Alitalia take a 49% shareholding in the Maltese car- rier. Air Malta had postponed negotia- tions on new collective agreements until 31 August, when it expects to have concluded discussions on its business plan with Alitalia, who are poised to take over 49% of the na- tional airline's shares. Zahra urged Air Malta and UCC to meet and come up with "fair and equitable" solutions that take into account the union's requests, as well as the country's need for a successful national airline. Should no solution be reached then the matter should be put to arbitration, Zahra said. "Malta's economic success has come about through the efforts of all stakeholders and cannot be taken for granted," he warned. "Ac- tions which threaten the tourism industry and therefore the liveli- hood of thousands remain unac- ceptable for the MHRA." The cabin crew's actions came in- to force at midnight on Friday and deploring these actions tourism minister Edward Zammit Lewis said in a statement that UCC rep- resentatives stormed out of a meet- ing, one of several held with various unions these last days. "We told the union, and commit- ted in writing, that their demands would be met as long as targets of productivity, efficiency and flex- ibility are met, which are so crucial for the airline to have a guaranteed future and to stay commercially vi- able. "Without any explanation, the UCC representatives upped and left the meeting." Zammit Lewis said the govern- ment's door was still open to the UCC but he deplored the union's "irresponsible" action and industri- al action in the peak of the summer. "The union knows the damage of this action will be irreparable. The UCC's action is not an honourable one for its members. "We will take all measures neces- sary not to allow anyone to damage the national airline and our tour- ism industry," he added. Tony Zahra: national airline no cash cow At present Air Malta is carrying an extra member of cabin crew on each flight Air Malta chairperson Maria Micallef