Updated - Air Malta pilots ordered to 'dress down' as union registers dispute

Updated Saturday. Air Malta pilots have been instructed by their union to forgo their uniforms as a sign of protest in a dispute which boiled over this week when the airline cancelled pilots' leave. In a statement, the union, ALPA, said its members will report for duty without jacket, tie and cap.  No disruption in flight operations is foreseen. The union said it officially registered an industrial dispute with Air Malta yesterday following what it said was the airline’s reluctance to abide by negotiated agreements. It said several attempts have been made to protect its members and their rights as expressly mentioned in the Collective Agreement, however procrastination from Air Malta’s management left it with no other option than to file this dispute. The key issues, it said, were about safeguarding the pension of its members and clarifying a clause in the collective agreement regarding computation of service. However, Air Malta’s procrastination was also manifested in other issues that affected the rights and conditions of employment. "During the past year the crew compliment of Air Malta was reduced by 16 pilots and for the last few months most of its pilots have been working on...