Air Mauritius and Cabin Crew Union Reconnect After 3-Year Silence

After a three-year hiatus, Air Mauritius and the Air Mauritius Cabin Crew Association (AMCCA) have resumed talks.

The recent meeting between Air Mauritius’ management and AMCCA representatives, including its president Yogita Babboo, aims to address lingering issues concerning the airline’s cabin crew. This marks the first discussion between the parties in three years.

The meeting reportedly did not focus on the reinstatement of Yogita Babboo, who was dismissed in July. Instead, the focus was on unresolved matters related to Air Mauritius’ cabin crew.

While the re-initiation of dialogue is seen as a positive step by the union, concerns were raised about the absence of the Chief Executive Officer in these discussions.

The technical committee formed for this purpose is tasked with addressing issues affecting union members who have been facing challenges since the airline’s voluntary administration.

The AMCCA highlighted that Air Mauritius, having received a government financial aid of Rs 12 billion and Airport Holdings Ltd receiving a transfer of Rs 25 billion from the Mauritius Investment Corporation, is now in a profitable position. Consequently, the payment of increments owed since 2020 will begin from August 2023.

During the meeting, the AMCCA reportedly also advocated for the payment of arrears for the years 2014 to 2018, along with overdue salary adjustments since 2020.

The AMCCA urged Air Mauritius to acknowledge the hardships faced by its employees, particularly the cabin crew, who have endured challenging conditions and reduced compensations post-pandemic. Collective agreements were downsized during voluntary administration, reducing labor costs from Rs 3.8 billion in 2018 to Rs 1.8 billion per year.

Source: Defi Media