Alliance Party media release FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Sunday 11 February 2007

Ex-airman takes flak from Air NZ CEO in jobs debate

84-year old ex-airman Eric Gamble of Christchurch wrote an email on Friday to Air New Zealand CEO Rob Fyfe saying a plan to outsource 1800 jobs was a case of "corporate bullying."

Mr Gamble served in the RAF in World War Two, and the RNZAF in the Malaya Emergency, and after leaving the services worked for decades throughout New Zealand as a qualified Flight Service Officer and supervisor.

The active Alliance Party member takes a keen interest in politics and current affairs – and he feels strongly about the plan for Air New Zealand to outsource hundreds of jobs. He was surprised to hear back from Mr Fyfe – who seems to be very sensitive to such matters and launched into a broadside.

The highly paid CEO replied "I am not aware of ever having met you and am not sure on what basis you are personally attacking me and labelling me a bully – an allegation I take seriously, particularly when published in an email."

Mr Fyfe continued by telling Mr Gamble he had "a lack of understanding of the issues we are grappling with at Air New Zealand and it is identical to emails I have received from a number of other parties and is obviously therefore a form email. It does nothing to advance the case of our employees or the issues we are grappling with."

A further email discussion took place with Mr Fyfe about the need for "profitability" and "flexibility." Mr Gamble says the aggressive approach by Air New Zealand management is wrong. "Air New Zealand is mostly owned by the New Zealand taxpayer, and it should be run to benefit New Zealand in all aspects." He believes Air New Zealand should be publicly owned, and run for the benefit of the public, one of the reasons he is an Alliance Party member.

He also believes that jobs at Air New Zealand should not be outsourced overseas, and Air New Zealand has a responsibility to maintain well paid, secure jobs in New Zealand along with a highly skilled domestic workforce. "It is obvious that the short sighted corporate approach to slash and burn will be a failure." He says that the Labour Government has to take some responsibility and start looking after the interests of workers.

Mr Gamble has extensive experience in the practical side of the aviation industry. He was born in Hackney, London, joined the RAF in 1941 and trained as Wireless Operator/Air Gunner. He served with 62 Squadron in India\Burma in the transport support role completing one operational tour 1944/45, and enlisted in the RNZAF in London arriving in New Zealand August 1954. In the 1950s, he served at Whenuapai on the Transport Support Unit operating with Bristol Freighter aircraft, and served a two and a half year operational tour with 41 Squadron in Singapore/Malaya during the emergency 1958/1960.

He took a honourable discharge in 1960, and joined Civil Aviation Authority of the Air Department, serving 4 years as Communications supervisor, Nadi Airport, Fiji, and the Auckland Communications Centre, until 1974 when promoted to higher grade supervisor position at Christchurch Airport.

As a qualified Flight Service Officer, he did relieving duties at Timaru, Oamaru, Hokitika, Westport, Queenstown and Milford Sound. Mr Gamble retired in September 1986 as Aerodrome Superintendent at Milford Sound but did a further 6 months as Air/Ground radio operator for the following Deepfreeze Season.

ENDS

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