Maldivian Air Taxi cabin crew on strike over pay dispute

Male' - 18:00 - Reports are coming that ground staff of Maldivian Air Taxi will also join the strike tomorrow. They will include reservations, despatch and Sand Bar staff, according to our source. Also, it is now clear that the strike was staged over management's failure to raise the daily food allowance from Mrf 20 to Mrf 50, which staff say is barely enough for daily meals, as prices have gown up over the last year by some margin. Industrial expert told DO that this "shows the incompetence of MAT management as the money they are losing today would have paid for this incremental allowance for more than a year as the company is having to hire other vessels and services from their competitors to operate now". There are also reports that Mr. Lars E. Nelson, the Danish owner and Chairman of MAT, is now on his way to the Maldives to try and resolve the matter personally.
Male' Airport - 08:58 - Management have refused to listen to them and now trying to fly with crews from TMA and other staff in MAT. Some pilots are unhappy about this decision. Protesting crew around 30 are now on their way to Male'. More than half the fleet of 21 aircrafts are grounded today and more than disruptions have caused severe delays to international flights as well in inter-resort transfers.
Male' Airport - 08:16 - Local staff of Maldivian Air Taxi have begun a strike today demanding a pay rise. Despite their earlier demands, the management refused to review their pays and instead pay cuts were introduced, one staff told DO. It is mostly cabin crew who are on strike. Management is now working to fly with untrained foreign workers in the company and also reportedly chartered two TMA flights to ferry their guests. Some resorts have reported delays in arrivals. The staff are quietly sitting down in the terminal area.