Unions consider Ryan Air implications

The General Workers' Union's ports and transport workers' section and the Union of Cabin Crew yesterday joined the European Transport Workers' Federation in a campaign to raise awareness about the implications Ryan Air was having on other airlines.

The two unions said Ryan Air was offering cheaper prices at the cost of workers, who had "appalling" working conditions because the company did not recognise trade unions.

Emmanuel Zammit, the GWU's section secretary for transport workers, said people should know that if Ryan Air were to come to Malta it would guarantee doubling the number of passengers but would require better fuel and handling rates and would negatively affect the standard of living of Air Malta employees.

Mr Zammit said the government should ensure that if Ryan Air were to come to Malta, there would be fair competition and that concrete measures were taken to ensure that service providers abide by the law.

Aldo Scicluna, on behalf of the Union of Cabin Crew, said the union was trying to put pressure on the need for cabin crew to be licensed. Maltese cabin crew at the moment have a certificate of competency while in most other countries they have a licence. A licence offers substantial benefits to cabin crew that a competency certificate does not, Mr Scicluna said. These include the provision of a medical insurance that makes up for differences in pay received in case cabin crew have to be grounded.