EPMU Media Release

April 17 2007

Strike notice served on Air NZ link company

Air Nelson has been issued a fourteen day notice of strike action by its workers after the Air New Zealand-owned company repeatedly refused to offer a decent pay rise.

From the 1st of May Air Nelson engineers will refuse to work overtime and Air Nelson ground-handling staff are also banning overtime and will refuse to load food freight. Notice has also been given for four three-day total strikes.

EPMU national secretary Andrew Little says the breakdown of Air Nelson’s negotiations is a sign of wider industry problems.

“The truth is the aviation industry is dominated by Air New Zealand which is on a warpath to erode the terms and conditions of its workers.

“Air Nelson’s workers have made sacrifices in the past to ensure the company could become the successful and profitable arm of Air New Zealand it is today but now their loyalty is going unrewarded and these workers have had enough.”

Air Nelson provides Air New Zealand link services to Napier, Palmerston North, New Plymouth, Tauranga and Nelson.

ENDS

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