May 24, 2007

Media Release

Striking Air NZ Link workers picket airport

Striking Air Nelson workers will be picketing at Nelson airport today to protest against the Air New Zealand-owned company’s refusal to offer them a decent pay increase.

The picket marks the first day of a month of notified strike action, which started at one minute past midnight this morning, and will include Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union members from the airline’s engineering and loading divisions.

EPMU Aviation Industry Organiser Strachan Crang says the strike is already biting.

“The company has grounded two of its eighteen aircraft in a move we believe is an attempt to reduce servicing load and we’re expecting they’ll be trying to load aircraft using management. We believe these managerial decisions are likely to cause disruption to flights.

“These workers are determined to get a fair share and are disappointed the company has let it come to this. They cut the airline some slack during the last negotiations so it could expand to become Air New Zealand’s biggest Link provider and all they want now is some repayment for that loyalty.

“As Air Nelson’s parent company we’d expect Air New Zealand to step in and sort this out, especially since it’s their koru on the side of all of these planes, but it looks like they’d rather have regional customers disadvantaged than make sure regional workers get a decent pay increase.”

Air Nelson provides the only air connection between most of New Zealand’s regional centres and its main cities.

The picket will take place from 12-2pm today at Airport Road opposite the Air Nelson Hangar, Nelson Airport.

ENDS

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