Out of Touch EPMU Stands in Way of Zeal Pay Rises

Media statement
21 April 2009

Out of Touch EPMU Standing in Way of Valuable Pay Rises for Zeal Flight Attendants

Today’s strike notice from the EPMU is putting in jeopardy pay increases worth thousands of dollars for its members.

The EPMU walked out of mediation with Zeal management last Tuesday night despite progress being made, and after a week of silence about when they would be available again, has chosen to issue a strike notice, this time for Mother’s Day weekend.

“We have a large number of fully qualified Air New Zealand staff ready to operate as cabin crew should this latest strike threat go ahead, and as a result of this contingency planning would expect no disruption to customers over this period,” says Air New Zealand Group General Manager Short Haul Airlines Bruce Parton.

“Zeal management have repeatedly told the EPMU they are ready to return to mediation whenever Andrew Little makes himself available again, however there has been nothing but silence,” says Mr Parton.

“Air New Zealand is quickly running out of patience with a union that clearly doesn’t want to make progress and is happy to see its members lose further income while they are on strike.”

Prior to the EPMU walking out of mediation last week, Zeal had repackaged its current offer, to one that would see a new entrant Zeal flight attendant receive an additional $3,000 per annum taking their total expected yearly earnings to more than $43,000 for an average 30 hour week, and the most experienced flight attendants increasing to $63,000.

“Why the EPMU would walk away from such an offer in the current economic environment defies belief. I’m not sure which universe they’re living in, but it’s not the same one as everyone else,” says Mr Parton.
“Zeal offered a very good pay increase at a time when Air New Zealand is trying to do everything it can to avoid redundancies like we have seen at Qantas, who will be axing an additional 1750 jobs on top of the 1500 already announced –equating to approximately 10% of their workforce.”
The EPMU continues to demand unrealistic base pay increases of up to 20.6%, over and above increases including a 7.7% increase in allowances already on offer from the company.

“With the EPMU’s idea of negotiating simply being unwilling to move on key points, Air New Zealand is quickly being driven towards finding other means of crewing its A320 fleet in the future,” Mr Parton says.
“It’s plain to see from current pricing levels we are making losses operating on the Tasman, and I am astounded Andrew Little has been unable to convince members that a pay rise should be grabbed with both hands in light of the current economic environment.
"Our market analysis shows Zeal flight attendants already earn more than their equivalents working for our main competitors operating across the Tasman. That is the pay-parity reality EPMU needs to understand. Trying to claim they should be paid the same as long-haul cabin crew who are logically given higher allowances to pay for items in foreign currency while on multi-day layovers in the likes of the USA and Japan is ridiculous.

“We are determined the EPMU will not ruin travel plans of New Zealanders and overseas tourists at a time when the industry is fighting hard to reverse a downturn in visitor arrivals.

“Air New Zealand and the government, through Tourism New Zealand, have just launched a combined $5 million promotional campaign in Australia to get more Australians spending their tourism dollars here. Why EPMU would want to jeopardise this and put jobs throughout the tourism industry at risk if Aussies decide not to come here as a result of their selfishness is beyond me.”

ENDS

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