Airline Pilots Association (ALPA) President Dominic Azzopardi yesterday criticised Tourism Minister Edward Zammit Lewis for issuing a statement condemning ALPA for not accepting 31 August as the next airline-pilots union meeting date.
“If the minister believes this is an urgent matter that must be addressed, then he should move up the meeting date rather than issuing such statements,” was Mr Azzopardi’s instant reply to a statement from Dr Zammit Lewis condemning ALPA’s refusal to meet on 31 August with the airline. Captain Azzopardi did not wish to give any further comments.
The airline and the union continue to remain at loggerheads over a new collective agreement that would replace that which expired at the end of last year.
ALPA had written to Air Malta refusing the suggested date of 31 August for their next meeting, urging that a closer date be chosen given the urgency of the situation.
The minister urged pilots to be proportionate in their behaviour and not allow piques and lack of diligence lead to a situation that can put the working lives of all Air Malta workers in peril, as well as those who work within the Tourism industry.
The minister said that sensitive discussions regarding the national airline are underway and that the pilots’ reaction, of refusing to wait until 31 August, is disproportionate and based on pique rather than common sense.
He said that ALPA must understand that putting pressure on the airline is useless, and that he is disappointed that instead of collaborating in order for the operations of the airline to be safeguarded, time is being wasted on useless back-and-forth arguments that arrive nowhere.
While the ministry awaits ALPA’s acceptance to participate in the 31 August meeting, where more concrete details can be given, Dr Zammit Lewis stressed that pilots must be conscious that any action taken that prejudices the airline will result in harsher commercial and legal decisions by the airline.
No progress had been made at the last meeting held with the airline. The association had said that the main issue is not the pilots' salary, but, rather, to ensure that pilots do not lose their jobs or have their working conditions changed to their detriment and to the detriment of their passengers' security.
Mr Justice Silvio Meli previously rejected an injunction filed by Air Malta against airline pilots in an attempt to stop any industrial action, ruling that the national carrier cannot stop the union from taking industrial action.
The judge said the company had no right to stop a union from exercising its legitimate right to take industrial action, including a strike, as it fought to defend the interests of its members. This right to take industrial action is guaranteed by the Constitution.
The Airline Pilots Association has previously pledged that it will not be grounding any Air Malta flights as part of any possible industrial action over their collective agreement dispute.