Tourism Minister Edward Zammit Lewis believes that at this stage, it is premature to comment on whether there will be any job cuts for workers employed with Malta's national airline, both because of discussions to find a strategic partner, as well as the changes being made within Air Malta.
Last July, however, the minister said that there were no plans to downsize the number of staff at the airline. In a statement last January, the minister spoke of meetings with Air Malta staff, held to discuss the way in which "positive change in direction for the airline" will happen.
"The message being delivered by the government is that it believes in Air Malta's potential to strengthen as an airline and offer more opportunities to the country," the statement read.
Air Malta is rumoured to be in talks with Etihad over a 49.9% buyout of the Maltese airline, however the Tourism Minister has, on countless occasions, refused to officially name the airline's potential strategic partner.
Asked yesterday about the upcoming collective agreements with the four unions associated with the airline, (General Workers Union, the Cabin Crew Union, the Malta Airline Pilots Association and the Airline Engineers Union), and his expectations, the minister said – "The four collective agreements expired, so such negotiations are normal. These negotiations are conducted in a wider context, where we want to change Air Malta's business model. These two variants will affect discussions, however I am confident that with the help of the Air Malta workers, who were always helpful in any changes so far, will be a success".
The four unions are expected to initiate discussions with President Emeritus George Abela (as mediator between Air Malta and the Unions) this month.
The former President is co-chairing a committee with Air Malta chairwoman Maria Micallef, and it will bring the Airline's four unions together to discuss the way forward.
from The Malta Independent http://ift.tt/1QEzuFW
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