The Airline Pilot Association (ALPA) has filed judicial proceedings against the Prime Minister, the Minister for the Economy, Investment and Small Businesses, as well as the Minister for Tourism and Consumer Protection, in order for them to “fulfil the contractual obligations which the Government of Malta had entered into by means of an Agreement signed by the ex- Minister for Tourism, Konrad Mizzi, on 26th January, 2018.”

In a statement, ALPA said that through the agreement, the Government of Malta had provided work-related guarantees to the members of the association, as well as a guarantee that the conditions of employment contained in the Collective Agreement currently in force between ALPA and Air Malta p.l.c. would be safeguarded until the signing of a new Collective Agreement.

“Notwithstanding, the employment of 69 of our members was unjustly terminated by the company with effect from 8th June, 2020, as a result of collective redundancies being declared. Despite being formally called upon to participate in the discussions preceding the termination of the employment of our members, as well as discussions aimed at reaching an amicable agreement relating to our members’ contractual rights, the Government of Malta has persistently refused to recognise any obligation to do so.”

During the negotiations with Air Malta p.l.c., members of its senior management team had repeatedly made it clear that the Government of Malta, as its main shareholder, was only ready to reach an amicable agreement with the association relating to the re-employment of its members if ALPA were to renounce to the rights deriving from the agreement signed on 26th January, 2018, ALPA said.

“The Government of Malta has therefore sanctioned the strategic use of negotiation tactics which run counter to core European and democratic values in an attempt at trampling on contractual and employee rights, as well as collective rights deriving from our member’s freedom of association. The Government is well aware of the fact that ALPA-Malta has persistently reaffirmed its intention to do its utmost to contribute to the growth of the local aviation sector. It is, therefore, disheartening that such irregularities have necessitated direct action against the Government of Malta in order for our members’ legal and contractual rights to be respected”