Air NZ strike threat likely to hurt travellers
A report in The Press says Air New Zealand engineers have threatened two weeks of strike action next month with likely disruption to the travel plans of hundreds of people.
Aviation engineer members of the Aviation and Marine Engineers Association (AMEA) and the Engineering Printing and Manufacturing Union (EPMU) are threatening strike action from May 9 over a pay dispute.
The two unions represent around 1500 engineers.
EPMU national secretary Andrew Little said the workers, who are seeking a 5.8 per cent pay rise, were unhappy with Air New Zealand’s proposed pay increase of 3.75 per cent.
“The action that has been notified has the potential to slow down and disrupt the schedule,” Little said.
The planned strike would run for two weeks. In the first week it could include refusal to work overtime. The second week would see engineers not carrying out tasks such as checks to make sure planes could fly.
“There could be more problems in the second week. It does have the potential to cause inconvenience to the travelling public,” Little said.
“The offer they have made is 3.75 per cent and (workers) say that is not enough considering the cost of living. They say 3.75 per cent doesn’t come anywhere near it.”
Negotiations have been carrying on between Air New Zealand and the unions since March and more mediation will take place in Auckland in the coming fortnight and be overseen by the Employment Relations Service.
AMEA national secretary George Ryde said discussions were under way with Air New Zealand.
“For any workers in New Zealand at the moment it is difficult with food and fuel prices increasing. We have got a period of time to get a solution before people have to start taking any action,” Ryde said.
A spokesman for Air New Zealand said the company would continue to try and resolve the situation.
“I can confirm we have received notice of intention to strike and mediation is continuing,” she said.
A Report by The Mole from the Press.
John Alwyn-Jones
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