Passengers on all Air Malta flights will from today receive limited service from cabin crew in protest at an airline decision to change the composition of the crew’s meals, Times of Malta has learnt.
The Union of Cabin Crew served notice of industrial action and issued directives to members, accusing the airline of breaching the collective agreement.
Following an agreement between Air Malta and in-flight caterer Sky Gourmet, hot snacks and beverages will, as from today, not be served for free to economy passengers but will have to be bought from cabin staff.
Such passengers will, however, get a free baguette and a half-litre bottle of water. This, according to the airline, will result in savings of about €4 million a year.
This move is unacceptable to the union
Cabin crew have been instructed by their union to still distribute the baguettes and water to passengers but they will not offer the trolley service selling soft drinks, chocolates, coffee and tea, crisps and light snacks.
Union president Noel Mercieca told Times of Malta this was only the first step and the union was prepared to step up action if required.
He said that according to the latest collective agreement the union signed with the airline, cabin crew had to be provided with “suitable meals”. After years of negotiations, the airline last year started providing cabin crew with a healthy meal that included cereal, fruit and yoghurt.
In the wake of the new catering agreement, the airline informed cabin staff they would be entitled to the same baguette and water provided to passengers or else they could get their own packed food.
That was unacceptable to the union, especially because it was not applied across the board and other employees on the same flights would continue to get their hot meal, in line with agreements in force.
Mr Mercieca said there was no “effective” consultation with the union officials before the new measure was implemented, even though meetings were held, the latest on Tuesday.
“Air Malta must not expect cabin crew to provide their own food, considering there are no facilities to buy food that is adequate for a day’s work. This explains why such a [food] clause was negotiated and included in the collective agreement,” he said.
Moreover, getting food from home could expose cabin crew to food poisoning.
“We are not against the concept of in-flight sales if the airline can increase its revenue but we cannot have this at the detriment of our members’ present conditions,” he said.
A spokeswoman for the airline confirmed yesterday that cabin crew would take industrial action, noting that the airline had not been officially informed about the directives.
“The collective agreement speaks of a ‘suitable meal’ and the cabin crew will be provided the same meal as that offered to passengers onboard all Air Malta flights,” the spokeswoman said.
This was part of a holistic deal the company was trying to conclude with cabin crew, including paying them a commission for in-flight sales, she added.
“The airline is proposing a conciliation meeting. Air Malta is undergoing a cost-cutting exercise which is being directed towards every aspect of the company.
“Part of the exercise includes renegotiating contracts with suppliers to drastically cut costs. The aim is purely intended to secure the future of the company and the jobs of all its employees,” the spokeswoman said.