Air NZ wages decided by negotiation, not decree

May 18, 2009
Media Release

Air NZ wages will be decided by negotiation, not decree - EPMU

The Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union says an edict made by Air New Zealand that pay increases for staff on individual agreements will be frozen or capped at a low rate will not dictate the outcome of EPMU collective negotiations with the airline.

The instructions were delivered in a CEO message last week and come as the EPMU is in dispute with the airline over Zeal 320 negotiations and prepares to negotiate the Airports agreement - the largest collective agreement Air New Zealand is party to.

EPMU national secretary Andrew Little says pay rises for union members at Air New Zealand will be decided across the negotiating table.

“Under New Zealand law, wages and conditions are set by good faith bargaining, not by a decree of the CEO.

“With this in mind we’ll be sitting down to negotiate with Air New Zealand in exactly the same way we always do and we will take into account our members’ democratically chosen claims as well as matters of company profit, increases in the cost of living and other economic factors as we always do.

“We would hope that non-union members on individual employment agreements at Air New Zealand would also be dealt with through good faith negotiations as is their right in law.”

The EPMU represents more than 4000 aviation workers most of whom are employed by Air New Zealand or its subsidiaries.

ENDS

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