Post by flyjoe180 on Apr 2, 2007 16:36:08 GMT 12
Workers ratify Air NZ deal, union pursues inquiry
Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union members in Air New Zealand’s ground services have accepted a package to stop their jobs being outsourced but are pursuing a parliamentary inquiry into the airline’s behaviour.
77.8% of workers voted in favour of the settlement which will involve losses for some members and gains for others.
EPMU National Secretary Andrew Little says the deal is the best of a bad situation.
“This was never our deal. Air New Zealand came to us with threats of contracting out and did so in a way that meant members had no bargaining power. We’ve done the best we can in the circumstances and we are now planning to petition the government for an inquiry into the airline’s sharp practice.
“One favourable outcome of this process is that these jobs have been kept in-house, which is better than dealing with a third party, but we’ll also be looking to make sure that this situation can’t happen again.
“Air New Zealand workers and their families have had this threat hanging over their heads for the last six months and today’s decision means they’ve now got a clear idea of what the future holds.”
Around eight hundred Air New Zealand workers have so far signed the petition for an inquiry.
www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0704/S00019.htm
Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union members in Air New Zealand’s ground services have accepted a package to stop their jobs being outsourced but are pursuing a parliamentary inquiry into the airline’s behaviour.
77.8% of workers voted in favour of the settlement which will involve losses for some members and gains for others.
EPMU National Secretary Andrew Little says the deal is the best of a bad situation.
“This was never our deal. Air New Zealand came to us with threats of contracting out and did so in a way that meant members had no bargaining power. We’ve done the best we can in the circumstances and we are now planning to petition the government for an inquiry into the airline’s sharp practice.
“One favourable outcome of this process is that these jobs have been kept in-house, which is better than dealing with a third party, but we’ll also be looking to make sure that this situation can’t happen again.
“Air New Zealand workers and their families have had this threat hanging over their heads for the last six months and today’s decision means they’ve now got a clear idea of what the future holds.”
Around eight hundred Air New Zealand workers have so far signed the petition for an inquiry.
www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0704/S00019.htm
