Air Malta pilots on collision course with airline after voting to strike

Tensions between Air Malta pilots and the govt spilled over into full-blown confrontation Sunday, after more than 90% of pilots voted to authorise industrial action. Members of the pilots’ union, Alpa, were asked to vote on the possibility of instituting wide-ranging industrial action that could include a suspension of service. Some 110 pilots voted in favour, with just 9 voting against it. The union asked its members to vote following an incident of what it called 'intimidation' against one of its members. Sunday evening, the airline said that the episode was not valid grounds for seeking industrial action, and was being used as a "pretext" to strike. Air Malta management, a spokesman said, had now filed a warrant of prohibitory injunction against Alpa and its individual committee members. <br/>