February 8, 2007
Media Release

Union moves on Air New Zealand court case

Legal action filed against Air New Zealand by the Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union over the airline’s ground services outsourcing bid has been adjourned until Monday the 12th of February.

The action follows Air New Zealand’s announcement today that it would not be accepting the union’s counter-proposal.

The union’s position is that Air New Zealand management has acted in bad faith by failing to provide all relevant information requested by the union during the consultation process as required by the collective agreement, and that Air New Zealand has deliberately misused the consultation process in order to re-open negotiations at a time when members are not able to take legally protected industrial action.

EPMU National Secretary Andrew Little says the union is pursuing legal action in order to get a fair deal for its members.

“Our membership has shown strong resolve and stuck together throughout this whole process and our recent mass member meetings have returned a strong endorsement of our position.

“We aren’t happy with the situation or the fact that it has dragged on for so long, but faced with Air New Zealand’s behaviour we have no option but to pursue it through every legal means possible.”

More than 1700 ground services staff face redundancy or cuts to their pay and conditions if the airline’s outsourcing bid goes ahead.

ENDS

© Scoop Media