Air N.Z. strike looms

Press, 15 April 1978, Page 5

Air N.Z. strike looms

PA Auckland Industrial trouble could throw New Zealand air travel into chaos next week. Air New Zealand intends to go ahead with a charter deal with Singapore Airlines, in spite of a threat by stewards and hostesses that they will strike immediately the service begins. The first flight is planned for Monday. Singapore Airlines has chartered an Air New Zealand DCIO for six months, employing New Zealand flight crew but using its own cabin crew. The Airline Stewards and Hostesses’ Union has given notice that 'ts members will strike if the charter proceeds I with a Singaporean cabin, crew. The stewards threat has | already caused Air New Zea- [ land to stall for two weeks,'

land a meeting before an i industrial conciliator in I Auckland this week failed to i i make any headway. ! The delays are costing Air ' New Zealand $54,000 a week. After the collapse of the [ talks before a conciliator, the' (airline was left with three alternatives: abandon the i charter deal (worth $1.14M); proceed with the charter and risk a strike; or agree to placing New Zealand cabin [ crews on the Singapore Air- ' lines flights. Singapore Airlines has insisted that it must have its ! own hostesses on board the i flights. The union has replied that a New Zealand jet with j a New Zealand flight crew; I should also carry a New Zea- , land cabin crew. The charter > . service would, the union' [ says, be running in competition against Air New Zealand ' anyway.