Air hearing brings truce

Press, 18 February 1983, Page 1

Air hearing brings truce

PA Auckland An unexpected telephone call at the height of yesterday’s 24-hour stoppage by Air New Zealand stewards and hostesses has probably forestalled further stoppages.

The call was from the registrar of the Arbitration Court to announce that a hearing over the case of a dismissed ground steward, Mr Dudley Smith, would be held on March 7. The union will attend, although filing for the hearing was made by Air New Zealand. The court hearing was not expected for at least six months, the minimum waiting time in union cases. Meanwhile, the airline was getting back to normal yesterday. after action which stranded more than 6000 passengers. and cost the company about $1.5 million.

Ten extra Boeing 737 flights were being, run yesterday on main trunk services. with an additional Jumbo flight for Nandi, Tahiti, and Los Angeles.

A threat of milder action, possibly work to rule, still hangs over the airline. The secretary of the Airline Stewards and Hostesses’ Union. Mr Terence Crossley, said it was obvious that the lack of complete support in Wednesday's strike would bear on a decision by the union's executive.

However, he denied statements that the number of domestic cabin staff who reported for work indicated a major split in the union.

"The figure amounted to a 9.3 per cent defection among 1100 members, and was confined solely to domestic flight cabin staff,” he said.