October 16th, 2006

Unions surprised by Air NZ projections

The Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union and the Service and Food Workers Union are surprised Air New Zealand’s CEO, Rob Fyfe, has told the media the airline expects a 9% expansion.

The comments follow the airline’s announcement that it plans to attack the wages and conditions of 1700 Air New Zealand ground services workers.

EPMU National Secretary Andrew Little says the airline seems to be putting profits ahead of the wellbeing of its workforce.

“It’s outrageous that Air New Zealand is telling its hardworking and loyal staff they need to give up their wages and conditions at the same time Rob Fyfe is predicting such a big expansion.

“Air New Zealand needs to get its priorities straight – if they think the way to build a sustainable long term business is to hammer loyal staff for short term profit then they need to think again.”

SFWU Regional Secretary Jill Ovens says the substantial growth shows there is no crisis at the airline.

“Air New Zealand management have adopted a corporate ideology that contracting out is the answer. It has nothing to do with providing better service for their customers.”

Ms Ovens says members are saying that if they were working for a contractor, they would not have the same loyalty or pride in their work.

“There would be none of the sense of public service they get from working for our national airline.”

So far this year Air New Zealand has announced restructuring or redundancies in its Engineering, Finance, Cleaning, Airpoints, and Ground Services divisions.

ENDS

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