The whole 30-plus points of adjustments the government wants to make regarding the work practices at Air Malta will be finally unveiled on Thursday evening when the General Workers Union meets the airline’s employees.

But Air Malta workers believe the adjustments will include such measures as overtime being paid at normal work hour rates, and sudden changes being made to work rosters.

GWU secretary general Tony Zarb, contacted by this paper, refused to confirm these rumours. All will be revealed on Thursday he said, adding that in his opinion, the government’s proposals amount to “the total dismantlement of the conditions the workers have obtained over the years.”

He added, however, that the Memorandum of Understanding still has until July to run out and there is thus enough time for negotiations.

Confirming that negotiations will be tough, Minister Austin Gatt told a Radio 101 phone-in programme on Thursday that if the unions choose the way of a new collective agreement rather than a new reform programme, there will have to be job reductions.

He claimed that the airline’s current problems stem from the oil price hike, over-manning in ground handling and antiquated work practices.