Unions and Air Malta’s management are expected to meet on Thursday to discuss retirement and redundancy schemes aiming to shed 511 employees as part of the airline’s survival plan. However, the General Workers’ Union general secretary Tony Zarb said the two sides were still some way from reaching agreement because the only offer on the table is the same scheme that was presented six years ago.
Speaking to The Sunday Times, Zarb said this was “unacceptable” and that even if an agreement on the schemes was reached during Thursday’s meeting, the unions would still have to revert to the workers for approval.
Early retirement schemes are expected to be offered to workers aged 55 and over, while voluntary redundancy schemes will be available for others. A timeframe will be connected to the retirement schemes. Management will have a right to reject the applications of those workers it believes should remain with the company, reports The Times of Malta.