August 28, 2007

Workers deserve credit for Air NZ turnaround - EPMU

The Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union says Air New Zealand's announcement of a $214 million net profit for the year to July involves a significant contribution from its unionised workforce.

The profit announcement, which is up 123 percent on the previous year, comes after EPMU members agreed to substantial restructuring in the airline's engineering and airport services divisions to make the company more competitive.

EPMU National Secretary Andrew Little says Air New Zealand needs to recognise the role its workers have played in turning around the company's fortunes.

"Air New Zealand management is entitled to be proud of this result and the turnaround the airline has enjoyed, but it's important the company recognises the huge contribution of its 1700 airport services and 400 engineering staff who have undergone significant restructuring.

"The restructuring deal in engineering services negotiated between the unions and Air New Zealand has alone contributed tens of millions of dollars towards this result, most recently in a $45 million contract to service wide body aircraft for Hawaiian Airlines and a $110 million deal with the RNZAF.

"The pity of it is that after everything this workforce and their unions have done, we still struggle to make ourselves heard on important decisions that affect our members' working lives. The airline's weak point is still its industrial relations and human resources practices, and it has a long way to go to get this right."

The EPMU and Air New Zealand finalised the engineering services agreement in March 2006 and the airport services agreement in March 2007.

ENDS

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