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Pilots to decide Wednesday on strikes, MIA reacts
GWU and Forum unions to demonstrate on Friday. MIA reacts to ALPA's claims
9 July 2011, 12:00am
Matthew Vella
Matthew Vella
3 min read
The Airline Pilots Association (ALPA) is to take a definitive decision on Wednesday if it is to strike and ground Air Malta flights.
ALPA president Dominic Azzopardi said the union is demanding that Air Malta management reviews the contracts it has with Malta International Airport, and that the airport zeroes its landing fees for the national airline.
The federation of unions Forum, whose member unions includes ALPA and the unions of cabin crew and airline engineers, today announced it would lead a demonstration in Valletta next Friday. The General Workers Union will also be joining the demonstration.
“We don’t want to be forced to take strike action,” Azzopardi said today, with ALPA under pressure from the tourism industry not to ground aircraft at such a sensitive time in the tourism calendar.
“We will take a decision next Wednesday if things stay as they are… we want government to tell us what real plans it has for Malta International Airport and low-cost carriers.”
ALPA says that MIA charges high landing fees for the national airline and that taxpayers subsidise landing fees for low-cost carriers like Ryanair through the route-support scheme, an EU-approved system of subsidies for airlines flying underserved routes.
But GWU secretary-general Tony Zarb remarked that Air Malta management had come unprepared for a meeting it held with unions yesterday, having little information to furnish on the contracts the airline has with third parties.
“We don’t want government to sell off Air Malta and turn it into a monopoly like MIA,” Dominic Azzopardi said. “MIA’s major revenue is from Air Malta which is responsible for 52% of all passengers that come to Malta. We’re going to make sure that the airline does not end up in the hands of two owners.”
Azzopardi said an ‘offer’ of a €4 million discount from MIA on Air Malta’s landing fees was “unacceptable.”
“Air Malta has supported Maltese tourism for years by keeping hotels full when it flies tourists at prices of €100 with taxes included. And then we have to pay €23 per passenger in landing fees to MIA,” Azzopardi said.
He also hinted that tenders issued by the Maltese government for airline companies to fly underserved routes through the route-support scheme had been skewed in favour of the competition.
“Air Malta has been flying to Spain for years now. Why did we need other airlines to fly these routes? We want the route-support scheme tenders to include conditions for airlines to fly cargo, which we know Ryanair doesn’t do. This would be a legal way for the Maltese government, which is Air Malta’s shareholder after all, to support the airline,” Azzopardi said.
The ALPA president also said Air Malta had not yet explained how the €52 million it was loaned by the government under strict conditions of restructuring had been spent, or the precise amount of employees who would be made redundant.
Tony Zarb and Forum president John Bencini appealed to Air Malta employees, their families and other union members to support the demonstration on Friday.
“We want to show solidarity with Air Malta workers because we really want to save the airline. We want to send the message that the country cannot do without Air Malta, and that unions want more transparency during consultations,” Bencini said.
“We’re not going to let them turn workers into some sacrificial lamb,” Tony Zarb said. “We’re disappointed that a €3 million report sent to the European Commission by the steering committee was never shown to us. We want answers from government.”
In a statement MIA reiterated its previous statement about MIA's stand and tariff regime. It said the cost to Air Malta for every passenger was not €23 but 19. It also refuted that the briefing room to Air Malta was costing the airline €375K. But MIA would not say how much Air Malta was being billed.
Matthew Vella, a freelance journalist at MaltaToday, was formerly executive editor at Malt...
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Imma qabel ma twiegeb, jekk int tant fidil li twiegeb, infakkrek li jien ghandi d'idejja dikjarazzjoni li kienu tawni tal-lejber li fiha jien, u eluf ta' ghalliema, konna mitluba niddikjaraw bil-miktub li ma nobdux id-direttivi tal-Union taghna. Tghid John Bencini jiftakarha din? Kuragg! Nistenniek.
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Kemm haw min qalbu taqarqu ghall-piloti!!!!!!!
@ Saligister: L-istrajks kienu illegali taht il-lejber. Mhux tall kulmin ipprova jaghmel xi taparsi strike sab ruhu jew locked out jew insawwat jew it-tmejn, talli Mintoff, il-kbir Duminku Mintoff kien avzana fil-Parlament Kien qal dal-precizi kelmiet: Ma nistghux li biex niehdu xi haga rridu nistrajkjaw. Jekk naghmlu hekk inkunu mgienen" Ghandi hafna izjed xi nghid, imma nibza li jinjorawni lili. Kuragg salgister......Nistenna minn ghandek.
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Dan l- strike mhux issa missu sar izda meta il- gvern holomli jghamell-ikbar paprata li qatt seta ghamel, dik li ibiegh l-MIA!! Kif tista tbiegh l-uniku airport lill barranin iktar u iktar meta l-ekonomija tghana tiddependi mit turizmu? Din gennata mill kbar, fejn kienu ta l-MHRA dak inhar? Qisek tbiegh il- kamra ta barra tad dar tieghek, li biex tidhol f'darek trid bilfors tghaddi minnha.
Prosit kbira lill ALPA, union zghira izda ta kuragg kbir li waqfet lill gvern millli ikompli ikisser u izarma dak kollu li huwa tal poplu biex jghamel xi erbgha tal qalba miljunarji. Il-gvern u shabu tal klikka bhall ta l-MHRA li xebghu jibilghu il-miljuni f'sussidji u artijiet jinsabu f'paniku, tibzghux mit-theddid u it tnewwieh ta dawn in-nies korrotti.
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Jekk jien naghmel xi haga hazina nigi ipprocessat. Allura f'dan il-pajjiz jekk tkun, President, PM, Ministru, Memnru Parliamentari, Isqof, Kappillan, Qasis, Kap ta' Dipartiment int tkun untouchable?
Il-poplu Malti kollu ghandu jesigi li min fuq sa isfel kull min jaghmel hazin ghandu jigi ipprocessat u ihallas ta ghemilu. Jekk ma isirx hekk kullhadd ha jibqa jabuza. Hadd, hadd, u hadd ma ghandu ikollu xi tip ta immunita.
Jien nahseb li l-poplu Malti kollu ghandu jaghti is-support tieghu lil Air Malta. Dik taghna, il-poplu kollu hallas ghaliha. Dak kollu li ghamel Mintoff u il-Partit Laburista, in-Nazzjonalisti farkuh f'dawn l-ahhar hamsa u ghoxrin sena.
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Both the Government and MIA are staying quiet, they believe that the pilots will not strike. I think it would be much better if the goverment and MIA do something right away, I would not risk...before its too late. I guess that this government did alot of damage at the moment, hoping not to keep ruining and bringing Malta to an end.
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ALPA we are 100 % behind you, its good to know that there are still some people in this country with some back bone. I and my family will be there backing you.
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MIA should their workings again. They forgot to add the fixed charge per flight which amounts to 271 euro or else nearly 2 euro per passenger. Also could they confirm that for 60000 sq mt of land passsed on to lufthansa tec they charge just 70000 per year? compare that to the 375000 they are charging air malta for a few offices.
Micheal Bonanno •
Taht il-Gvern PN, l-istrajks illegali u min jaghmilhom ikun qieghed jaghmel hsara lill-pajjiz. Isiru legali meta l-PL ikun fil-Gvern u ta' bzonn ghal pajjiz. Niggarantilkom li malli jkun hemm il-PL fil-Gvern nergghu nisimghu bl-istrajks l'hemm u l'hawn!
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Prosit tal- kumment Toninu. Naqbel mieghek 100%
Qisu l-istrajk xi haga ta xi dinja ta l-aljeni!
Ara veru dawn li qed joggezzjonaw ghal istrajk jew ma jifmhu xejn- li l-istrajk huwa dritt fundamentali tal -haddiem jew inkella jahsbu li jifmhu hafna bhal ta l- MHRA li xebaw igawdu minn fuq l-Airmalta li issa qeghdin jinkwetaw..... ghal but taghhom imma...
Eh issa li qeghdin fl-ewropa suppost nemmnu bil-kuncett tas-solidarjeta mal- haddiem fit-tajjeb u fil-hazin. Jew ewropej tal-bzonn biss?
Ma ninsewX li ftit taz-zmien ilu il-piloti ta l-Airmalta marru jsalvaw in-nies mil - Libja. Dawk kollha li kienu favur il low cost bhal MHRA tas- sur Gorg Micallef, ghax ma qalux lil bdoti tal -low cost biex imorru l-libja flok il bdoti ta l-Airmalta
Ahjar tghamlu kuragg lil -piloti li b'union zghira daqshekk li kellhom l - kuragg jghamlu hoss
Joseph MELI •
MIA REACT-what reaction?They merely have trotted out the same old tired cliches and spin and their time will come as they have past theri shelf life!
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Pilots and staff of AIRMALTA are going to loose their jobs. Three years ago
things were already looking dim. No body did any constructive. Now that there are some who want to voice their problems in public , they are told not to because its not right and convenient. Go on strike, Its rightful and
timely. You have always done a good job.
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iL-PILOTI U IL-HADDIEMA TAL-AIRMALTA GHANDHOM RAGUN ASSOLUT. PERO BI STRAJK JIEN NIBZA LI IL-POPLU LI DIGA QED IBATI MINNHABBA DECIZJONIJIET HZIENA TAL-GVERN JISTA IKOMPLI IBATI MINNHABBA THARBIT LI JISTA JINQALA FL-INDUSTRIJA TAT-TURIZMU LI HIJA WAHDA MILL-PILASTRI EWLENIN TAL-EKONOMIJA TA PAJJIZNA. NAHSEB LI JKUN AHJAR LI NAHSBU F'ALTERNATTIVI OHRAJN BIEX IL-GVERN JIGI F'SENSIH U JAGHTI KAZ MINGHAJR MA NWEGGHU LILNA INFUSNA U INWESSGHU L-UGIEGH LI IL-POPLU QED IHOSS.
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let's continue with the saga of Gonzi-Pinocchio.
Let's forget the letter he wrote to Airmalta employees before the election guaranteeing their job. Let's forget the promise he made that if need be, redundant workers will be absorbed by the public sector.
As recent as last Sunday, he said that the voluntary retirement schemes will be very generous "like those given to the Drydocks" (his words)
What was offered to the union 2 days ago ?
The same scheme, word for word, already offered in 2006 and 2008, to Airmalta workers which is so rediculous that almost no one took it.
Either Gonzipn is a simpleton, or he thinks that we are!
If he is trying to find an excuse to close the company, he is doing a very good job out of it.
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L-istrajk ghadu dritt? Ghadhom jistaw jistrajkjaw il haddiema? L-istrajk sar illegali?
Ghax kull darba li tissemma il kelma strajk iqumu l-irwiefen kollha. Min ghax ser tkisser l-azjenda, min ghax ser tkisser it-turizmu, min ghax mhux il mument u elf skuza ohra. Li qatt ma jaraw hu jekk il-haddiem li jkun wasal fl-estremita li jistrajkja ghandux ragun jew le.
Barra min hekk min ixxerred id-dmugh tal kukkudrilli kontra l-istrajks qatt seghma jekk isirux stajks fl-EU?
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A CEO who works a three day week and jets home for four days. He should have made Malta his home for three years not the UK or wherever.
Go on strike pilots and give the goverment what it deserves to get. I hope others will join in like bus drivers.
The only problem is that the MLP will have to start up a new airline when they get into power next year. I hope that they terminate the carriers that brought Air Malta to this.
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Go ahead ALPA,if the government wants to play the ostrich,despite the numerous attempts and pinpointing of urgent matters to resolve things for the good of Airmalta, its employees and finally the Maltese people,who own the Airline,then let him dig his own grave and sooner or later he will have to lie in it.
We will back you and not stand to see one of our last Public owned companies be killed and bleed to death,whilst some Cuc Malti will give it to some foreigner to manage,on our same soil.No and No,the rape of our National Airline will not prevail!!
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MEMO TO: DOMINIC AZZOPARDI
ALPA PRESIDENT
Malta is at the crossroads and as one comment listed below has quite rightly observed, it is now or never to reverse the destructive capitalism that this government and its cabals has engaged in, to the detriment of national entities like AIR MALTA and the tax payers at large.
To your credit you had the audacity and courage to expose the outright collusion and questionable contracts that has brought this most important national airline in administration and possible bankruptcy.
ALPA must hold its ground and it is the duty of every other union in Malta to show support and demonstrate along side in defiance of a government who keeps fattening these cabals while their snouts remain entrenched in the national trough.
The privatization of the MIA was a total screw up from a government that has refused to stop, while expediting their policies to divide the national pie.
Most governments who appreciate the security of their countries would never relinquish these operations of their main airports to private enterprise.
Malta has only one airport and therefore the importance of this operation is very critical to this island.
In this place, law & order and customs surveillance are so relevant and important under the direct responsibility of the government at a huge cost to the tax payers of this country.
AIR MALTA must and can survive in its present form, as long as this government can show the Maltese people that it is willing to work with you to sustain this national treasure.
Instead of using tax payers money for early retirement and other costs related to the reduction of over 500 employees, this government must use these funds to buy back 51% of the voting shares in MIA.
The excess aircrafts must be used to convert to low cost flights.
Instead of selling SELMUN PALACE and dismissing its employees, such an entity should be converted to an all inclusive holiday resort, while AIR MALTA’s low cost flights carry the tourists.
Government subsidies and incentives to tourism should be allocated fairly equally between enterprises involved including AIR MALTA which has been discriminated against for all these years.
These ideas that GONZIPN has been selling to the Maltese people that subsidies are not allowed in the EU are nothing but hogwash to the detriment of the Maltese workers and to appease their enterprising cabal friends.
The European corporation Airbus, a subsidiary of EADS has been receiving subsidies from the England & France for years as Boeing has been insisting in vourt to no avail.
ALPA can make the difference and the Maltese nation ought to show their gratitude by expressing their show of unity with ALPA, in this March where somebody has finally found the courage to stand up and be counted.
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Strike or not, the same decisions are going to be taken. Thus, in my opinion it is wrong to strike. The country and the tourism will suffer. And what does ALPA will get in return? The blame of course. The Government will blame it if there is a tourism slump.
Now, I know there are PL fanatics who are rubbing their hands in glee waiting for more spokes in the Government's wheels. I would like to ask them what is their job. If they will be somehow affected by this (which in 1 way or another will), and yet they don't care -as this is PN's responsibility - I'd say that is childish thinking.
Best course of action for ALPA would be to continue doing your job. But Remember this day when the elections come.
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COURAGE!!! FIGHT FOR YOUR RIGHTS!!! GIVE THEM A RIDE!!!
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Dear Pilots Association...This is the moment of truth. Do not be intimitated by the greedy Hoteliers who are making thousands of your backs as pilots of the national airline. The good unions and the people of Malta are behind you. Please keep strong in your act and show them that you are not their own servants but at Malta's sevice as National Airline Pilots.
The Maltese people are counting on you...Please dont let us down...
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ALPA STICK TO YOUR GUNS,THESE ORGANIZATIONS ARE MOUNTING PRESSURE ON YOU TO GIVE UP, YOU HAVE TO SHOW THEM THAT YOU MEAN BUSINESS. its NOW OR NEVER.
Joseph MELI •
Apparently the new CEO-PETER DAVIES-is only in Malta for 3 days a week on Tuesday,Wednesday and Thursday -not bad pay for a part-timer is it?Also that he leaves the Island before the end of the week therefore can we reliably refer to him as the Robinson Crusoe- CEO -as everything is done by FRIDAY.
