EPMU withdraws Easter strike notice

April 2, 2009
Media Release

EPMU withdraws Easter strike notice, current action to continue

The EPMU has withdrawn its notice for Easter strike action at Air New Zealand, however the industrial action currently underway will continue.

Air New Zealand had applied to the Employment Court for an injunction to prevent the strike on the grounds that one aspect of the strike notice was unclear.

This aspect related to the question of what constituted being “in New Zealand” while on flying duties.

Having received legal advice and participated in a directions conference with the Employment Court, the union negotiating team considered that the strike notice was unlikely to survive the court action and that with other litigation initiated by both the company and the union it was better to focus our legal resources on these other issues.

Currently notified industrial action involving non-compliance with the company’s uniform policy and non-availability of staff for standby rosters will continue indefinitely.

The union negotiating team is considering re-issuing the strike notice that is the subject of the airline’s injunction and a decision will be made in the next two days.

ENDS

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