May 22, 2006

Media Release

Air New Zealand cleaners case settled

Legal action over Air New Zealand’s plans to contract out the cleaning of aeroplanes has been settled.

A court case was due to start in Auckland today over the company’s unilateral decision in February to replace its own cleaners with contractors.

Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union national secretary Andrew Little said that the case had now been settled, with Air New Zealand agreeing to work through a consultation process with the union before making any decision about contracting out aircraft cleaning.

“We believe that the company can get the results it wants by working with it own staff, and we are pleased that it is now seriously committed to investigating that possibility,” he said.

The union and the company had also agreed to set up a working party to look at the future structure of ground handling operations, Mr Little said.

ENDS