Air Malta’s employees in tears – PM nowhere to be seen

Last Friday was the last day in which Air Malta employees had to decide whether to leave their job at the airline or accept the new conditions set by the restructuring team. Air Malta employees told maltastar.com that the last few days have been heartbreaking for many of them: “Those who are leaving and those who are staying are all heart broken to see what happened to the company.”

An employee who dedicated 35 years of his life to Air Malta said: “It is becoming so sad these past few days, hearing of people who have decided to leave Air Malta to save themselves and their families. It is staring to hurt shaking hands and kissing friends goodbye, when they come up to my office, telling me it is their last day! After all the many years we have worked together, night and day, rain or shine. It is not fair! It is not fair! We did not deserve this, and yet the chosen few who remain are counting their blessings and juggling between them which new position or promotion suits them best. It is not fair.”

Air Malta employees taking up the early retirement scheme received a letter from the Office of the Prime Minister dated 11 January 2012 telling them “Any person taking up employment in the public administration” and receiving public funds “in the form of Voluntary Redundancy, Early Retirement … will have to refund in whole or in part” the money given.

It was signed by the Principal Permanent Secretary Godwin Grima.

Air Malta employees said this time, when hundreds of them are losing their jobs, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi is nowhere to be seen. On the eve of the last general election he had written personally to all the Air Malta employees guaranteeing them their job and a better income.

Last July addressing a demonstration in solidarity with Air Malta employees President of Forum Unions Maltin said: “You can buy a vote by bribing people with money. You can also make tem false promises that then you cannot keep.”