Air NZ must seriously consider union proposal

MEDIA RELEASE

07 December 2005

Air New Zealand must seriously consider union proposal says CTU

The Council of Trade Unions is calling on Air New Zealand management to take seriously the union counter proposal on the future of 617 heavy maintenance engineers.

The proposal, a substantial report developed with nationally recognised expertise, will be released tomorrow morning to Air New Zealand management and the public, by the Engineering, Printing & Manufacturing Union and the Aviation and Marine Engineers Association.

“We need to see the best outcome for New Zealand, and this decision is one that should not be rushed,” said Ross Wilson, CTU President. “We are urging the company to take the proposal seriously, and to take time to properly consider it. Government, as majority shareholder, also has a role to play in ensuring the board of Air New Zealand follows good process on this matter.”

“I met with Air New Zealand CEO Rob Fyfe earlier this week and specifically asked him to engage properly and investigate the options that will be presented by the unions tomorrow,” said Ross Wilson.

“New Zealanders are watching this decision closely,” said Ross Wilson. “The issue is whether Air New Zealand will act in New Zealand’s interest in retaining an engineering maintenance capacity and its highly skilled workforce, or disregard our national interest by giving consideration to short term financial returns only.”

ENDS

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