The Association of Airline Engineers Malta (AAE) refers to the article entitled “Collective Agreement that was almost not signed” (TMIS, 4 March).

This article is a copy of a press release issued by the AAE on 28 February with the addition of two paragraphs full of misleading information intended to damage or discredit the AAE. The AAE strongly denies the contents of these two paragraphs.

The statement that “the signing of the agreement was in doubt up to almost the last minute” is incorrect.
The contents of the agreement were approved by Lufthansa Technik Malta (LTM) members almost a full month before the signing. LTM management was immediately informed, and notice of this agreement was published in the local press on 11 February.

Far from threatening not to sign the agreement, in the week before signing AAE executive committee members were in contact with LTM Management to finalise formalities such as date, time and place of signing of the agreement.

Also false is the statement that there “was opposition from the Air Malta engineers”. Air Malta members were not even informed of this agreement, much less given the chance to object. This is because the AAE statute clearly states that in collective bargaining matters, both groups are autonomous and neither can influence or vote on the other’s affairs. The collective agreement signing was never in doubt.

Once again we state, for the record, our complete support for Lufthansa Technik Malta and its new expansion project.

Stefan Grech
President
Lufthansa Technik Malta Group Committee