Gulf Air denies plan
By DANIEL MUNDEN, Posted on » Monday, August 10, 2009
GULF Air last night dismissed reports it was planning to sack 272 Bahraini and expatriate employees within three months as part of restructuring plans.
Trade unionists claimed to have evidence the airline was planning to reduce its workforce from 5,072 to 4,800.
However, in a joint statement Gulf Air chairman Talal Alzain and chief executive officer Samer Majali denied any such plans existed.
"Further to stories in today's media about Gulf Air making redundancy plans, Gulf Air can confirm that these stories are inaccurate," the statement said. "Any current positions being made redundant are through natural attrition and those resulting from employee misconduct."
Despite this, Gulf Air Trade Union chairman Mustafa Al Tooq said he was hoping for a meeting with Gulf Air management and the General Federation of Bahrain Trade Unions on Wednesday to discuss the matter further.