December 1, 2006

Joint Media Release

Logo adbust upsets Air New Zealand

Unions threatened with legal action by Air New Zealand over the use of the Koru in campaign publicity material have offered to give it up to the airline's lawyers.

Earlier this week lawyers for the airline demanded all material bearing the adbusted campaign logo to be delivered up, no more material be produced and a payment of $1300 made.

The unions are campaigning against proposals by the airline to contract out 1700 airport jobs on significantly lower pay and conditions.

EPMU National Secretary Andrew Little says the copyright issue is a sideshow.

"Legal advice to us suggested that it would be difficult for the airline to demonstrate any real damage to the airline's brand image in these particular circumstances" said.

"But, the priority for us is the fight to keep 1700 good jobs with the airline, not inane quibbling over a logo.

"The reality is most of the material is out and about and we no longer have any control over it.

"The lawyers will have to chase it up. We've got real work to do."

Service and Food Workers Regional Secretary Jill Ovens says the logo issue highlights Air New Zealand's general overreaction.

"This is another example of Air New Zealand getting its priorities wrong. If the company spent half as much time managing its core business as it does managing its brand we wouldn't be in this situation."

ENDS

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