EPMU Media Release

1 March 2007

EPMU stunned by Air NZ’s actions

The Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union is stunned by Air New Zealand’s decision to present its unionised workers with a collective agreement that has not even been seen by union negotiators at a time when the company is already embroiled in a bad faith court case laid by the union.

EPMU members and officials only found out about Air New Zealand’s new position during a series of workplace meetings run by the airline this afternoon.

EPMU National Secretary Andrew Little says the airline’s actions may constitute another serious breach of good faith.

“It’s simply not on to try to bypass the workers’ advocates in this way. We’ve been in constant dialogue with our ground service members and with the airline since this dispute began. There is no need to railroad our members.

“Air New Zealand has rolled out hundreds of pages of documentation and a full presentation to our members and put our name on these documents when we haven’t even seen them. As far as we’re concerned that kind of move is at the very least deceitful and possibly unlawful and we’ll be looking into further legal action over this.”

The EPMU represents just under 1600 ground service workers and is currently engaged in legal action over Air New Zealand’s alleged abuse of process.

ENDS

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