The agreement will see ground handlers able to migrate to a new company; moreover, jobs are guaranteed whilst salaries are set to rise, according to sources. The agreement represents the third within the space of four weeks and the next accord, one involving its pilots, should be signed early in the New Year.
The agreement for the handlers was signed between Air Malta and the General Workers’ Union and will entail the hiving off of ground handling services to a company that will be set up in 2018. Some 450 ground handling employees will see a rise of 19% in terms of their salaries over a five year period, together with a guarantee of employment within the public sector in the case of privatisation. All this is, however, on condition of high productivity, efficiency and flexibility.
There was speculation that the carrier, which has been beset by financial troubles for an extended period, would go under earlier in the year.
