All Air Malta operations ‘normal’ in spite of strike

Air Malta said yesterday that its operations are running normally in spite of industrial action taken the night before by the Association of Operations Controllers (AAOC).

Flights to London were delayed slightly due to bad weather conditions over the city, the airline said, and the work usually handled by the airline’s operations control centre is now being outsourced to a service provider.

Yesterday morning, Air Malta management held conciliation meetings with the union. Although these meetings have been inconclusive so far, Air Malta and the government remain open to further discussion with the aim of finding a solution to this issue, the airline said.

“The airline will continue to do its utmost to guarantee the best possible service and least possible inconvenience to its clients.”

Air Malta yesterday morning said it was facing industrial action from the AAOC because the union is not recognised by the national carrier. It had warned that the industrial action could stop the company’s operations and could have a detrimental effect on the tourism industry. The airline said the action was “irresponsible and illegal” and that it would hold the union responsible for any damages.

Union’s position

In an explanatory letter sent to the media by the AAOC’s legal representative, Ian Spiteri Bailey, the union said it is requesting recognition from the airline. It was set up on 5 October 2015 and has been requesting recognition since.

This delay led to the registering of an industrial dispute twice but no industrial action was taken, the union said.

The Director of Industrial Relations and Employment had concluded that the AAOC should be granted recognition but the airline has not accepted this. This led the AAOC to register another dispute and action was, this time, taken.

The General Workers Union is insisting that it still represents these workers and, in Air Malta’s words, is threatening to take action. It is clear, the AAOC said, that because of the “unjust and illicit threat” by the GWU, Air Malta is refusing to honour the decision taken by the Director of Industrial Relations and Employment.

The AAOC said it is registered by law and rejects the accusation that its action is “extreme, illegal and irresponsible.” It is unacceptable that such adjectives are used when a union exercises its rights.

The union said it is open to solutions.

MHRA calls upon AAOC to stop ‘shooting themselves in the foot’

The Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association (MHRA), in reaction to the notice of industrial action issued to Air Malta by the Association of Airline Operations Controllers (AAOC), lambasted any potential damage to the tourism sector and specifically to Air Malta as irresponsible and destructive.

The MHRA stated that while it recognises the right for employees to representation, it has remarked that issues must be addressed through dialogue and never by putting the employer at ransom, especially when in this case the victim of such action would be the wider economy itself. MHRA said that the economic success that has been achieved to date through the contribution of the tourism sector has reached record levels not by coincidence, but rather through the concerted efforts of all stakeholders over the past years. Specifically referring to the issue involving AAOC, MHRA states that nothing justifies grounding Air Malta aircraft, especially when in the referred case there are clear rules and directives governing such matters.

MHRA also states that we can never achieve the desired economic growth and, furthermore, save our national airline if a small group of individuals within the organisation deem it right to disrupt and drastically harm our economy.

Tony Zahra, MHRA President said: “The days of such militant and short-sighted actions, which cause great harm and disruption to the economy, are long gone and should be resisted by the authorities at all costs. No one is indispensable and should in the face of challenges always opt for a solution through dialogue and respect.” MHRA asserts that in this issue it will be consistent and will support the relevant authorities, including the government and Air Malta in safeguarding the national interest. MHRA called upon AAOC to stop shooting themselves in the foot.

MEA backs Air Malta

The Malta Employers’ Association condemned the industrial action, stating that it goes against the provisions of Legal Notice 413 of 2016 on recognition of Trade Unions. The legal notice states that:

“Once a union is recognized as the sole collective bargaining union, no other union may intervene on a collective matter relating to the employees concerned with the employer, and conversely, no employer shall discuss collective matters relating to the employees’ concerned with a union other than the recognized union.”

MEA said it is strongly of the opinion that the management of Air Malta should not be coerced into taking back a legitimate recognition granted to GWU and give it instead to the AAOC. The association added that it disagreed with the Director of Employment and Industrial Relations’ decision to give recognition to the AAOC, and that this case can set a dangerous precedent for other companies as it is inconceivable that union representation within a company can become fragmented in a manner that can make a place of work unmanageable. This decision risks putting Air Malta in a gratuitous simultaneous confrontation with two unions.

The fact that the AAOC has the majority of employees in a department does not give it an automatic right to negotiate a collective agreement on their behalf. Union recognition should be based on a totality of company employees unless agreed between management and unions to consider categories. The legislation makes no mention that an employer is obliged to recognise collective bargaining units within a company.

“The fact that the AAOC has the majority of employees in a department does not give it an automatic right to negotiate a collective agreement on their behalf ”