Air Nelson pilots strike round Two

[vgp]

Air Nelson pilots are to go on strike next Tuesday, after talks over rosters and pay broke down.

Members of the Airline Pilots Association will stop work at midnight on Easter Monday and resume flying at midday on Tuesday. They will then work to rule from Thursday, 27 March until Monday, 7 April.

Air Nelson manager John Hambleton says the action will affect 34 flights and 900 passengers.

He says the airline is notifying passengers and offering them alternative flights, with Nelson to Christchurch flights travelling via Wellington.

www.radionz.co.nz/news/latest/200803200809/1dbcf676

[flyjoe180]

Negotiations must be really bad for them to strike like that at a busy time of the year. I can understand the pilots' demand for more money though. They are flying bigger aircraft, probably working harder than before the arrival of the Q300's, and with pretty much the same pay as when they were operating the Saab 340.

[vgp]

Air Nelson pilots' strike grounds 34 flights
Tuesday, 25 March 2008


Thirty-four Air Nelson flights were cancelled this morning when pilots from the Air New Zealand-owned company went on strike for half a day.


The New Zealand Airline Pilots Association (NZALPA), which represents more than 100 pilots at Air Nelson, has been negotiating a new collective employment contract with the airline since July last year, but talks have reached an impasse.

Air Nelson general manager John Hambleton said less than a quarter of the 164 scheduled flights had been cancelled and contingency plans made last week ensured all passengers reached their destination.

Mr Hambleton said some passengers had been re-booked by Air New Zealand and the company had also "combined loads".

"We regret any impact to customers of course, I guess at the end of the day we have and will get everyone to their destination," he said.

"In the circumstances the plans seem to be going very well."

A further half-day strike was planned for the afternoon of April 4.

"We're in the process of making plans for that."

Mr Hambleton said there was a chance an agreement would be reached before further strike action.

"We are always very hopeful but the parties are very, very, very wide apart," he said.

"The type of claim that has been lodged in respect to rostering would cost millions and frankly that in itself is a major inhibitor."

The pilots were seeking pay increases of 4.5 per cent, 3.5 per cent, and 3.5 per cent over the next three years and are asking for a 4.30pm finish on the Friday before their weekend off.

NZALPA president Mark Rammell said pilots at Air Nelson started on an annual salary of $23,400 and were currently entitled to only one weekend off every 28 days.
www.stuff.co.nz/4451316a13.html

[flyjoe180]

$23,400 seems awfully low! Would it be worth getting out of bed for that? After years of earning next to jack all in the instructing or GA world, pilots should be rewarded better than that! If that figure is true then that is disgusting.

[phil82]

My air force Super is worth more than that!

[vgp]

in relation Eagle Pilots get paid less than Air Nelson and are employed intially as Contract Pilots for 12 months if suitable are offered employment also in relation Air NZ mainline cabin crew get paid a base salary of quote nz herald - NZ flight attendants have a starting base salary of at least $24,000 a year.

PILOTS
Eagle Air has an ongoing requirement for pilots to fly as Contract First Officers.

Interviews are conducted several times each year and occur over a four day period. The interview includes a group exercise, a panel interview, a pilot aptitude test and if successful a flight in the Beech 1900D.

Succesful applicants who do not hold a B1900D type rating are invited to attend a voluntary B1900D ground course and thereafter may be offered a 12 month Contract for Services.

Contract First Officers may be considered for permanent employment positions as internal vacancies arise.

so pretty shocking allround.


www.eagleair.co.nz/default.asp?ShowCat=3&CategoryID=11

[vgp]

34 flights grounded as Air Nelson pilots strike
1200 travelers affected

Friday, 04 April 2008

A half-day strike by Air Nelson pilots today led to the cancellation of 34 flights.


The New Zealand Airline Pilots Association (NZALPA), which represents more than 100 pilots at the Air New Zealand owned-Air Nelson, said today's stoppage was from 12.01pm until 11.59pm.

Air Nelson general manager John Hambleton said the 34 cancelled return services affected around 1200 people.

"Various options have been found for everybody and everybody has been accommodated," he said.

NZALPA has been negotiating a new collective employment contract with the airline since July last year.

Last week it presented a compromised offer for settlement which was rejected by the company, NZALPA said in a statement.

NZALPA said insufficient staffing numbers was one of the biggest hurdles to reaching a settlement.

"Air Nelson constantly relies on pilots being willing to work on their days off and during their annual leave in order to operate its scheduled services.

"With pilot turnover at Air Nelson at unprecedented levels, pilots have a real concern that this goodwill is being exploited by management."

But Mr Hambleton said while there had been some increased turnover this was occurring industry-wide.

"Our turnover is way below what's happening in Australia or overseas," he said.

It was an industry that traditionally went through "feast and famine" and the company had increased its training establishment to ensure it could deal with turnover.

"So at the present time, no, we are not short on pilots, but from time to time when you get sick leave peaks or ACC peaks, yes, you can end up with a position where we seek to get people in on a day off to work some overtime."

Mr Hambleton said on average pilots worked 31 hours per week.

He said the company had offered to be available for further mediation with NZALPA, but said its claims were unrealistic.

"We've made it very, very clear that their claims are excessive," he said.

The association's demands would require Air Nelson to employ more than 31 extra pilots at a cost of more than $4 million a year.

" That would result in huge cost escalation and in the end the customers are not going to be prepared to pay that.

"We've got to look at that in the context that we've also got in excess of $10.5 million to $11 million worth of fuel cost increases in the next 12 months and that's just Air Nelson," he said.

" So you put those things together, in amongst an economy where obviously we've got these collapsing financial institutions, there are toughening conditions and this sort of claim's level could just not be considered."

Today's action followed a half-day strike on March 25.

www.stuff.co.nz/4464864a10.html