GWU registers industrial dispute and issues a notice of industrial action at Malta MedAir

17 Aug 2026 - Home | Maritime and Aviation | News | Sections

The Maritime and Aviation Section within the General Workers’ Union (GWU), which represents employees at Malta MedAir, has registered an industrial dispute and issued notice of industrial action to the company.

The GWU was officially recognised a few weeks ago as the union representing employees in certain grades within Malta MedAir. As part of the process leading to discussions on a new Collective Agreement, the GWU requested that the company provide the existing documents governing the working conditions of the employees concerned.

However, the company is insisting that these documents should not be provided to the Union, despite the GWU having been officially recognised by the Department for Industrial and Employment Relations (DIER) to represent these employees.

The GWU considers this position to be an obstacle to its legitimate work on behalf of employees and to the commencement of effective and transparent collective bargaining.

Secretary of the Maritime and Aviation Section, Jurgen Azzopardi, said:

“The collective bargaining process must be based on transparency, mutual respect and recognition of the union’s role as the employees’ representative. Denying a recognised union access to the basic information it needs to carry out its role is an attempt that not only weakens workers’ representation but also undermines industrial relations.”

The GWU will not remain silent in the face of attempts to hinder workers’ right to effective representation and to fair and transparent collective bargaining.

Nevertheless, the GWU remains hopeful that the matter can be resolved amicably through dialogue and cooperation. However, should there be no willingness on the part of the company to cooperate, the GWU reserves the right to further escalate industrial action and take all necessary steps to safeguard the rights and interests of the employees it represents.