Airline to face more union strife

Press, 24 March 1984, Page 1

Airline to face more union strife

By

LES BLOXHAM,

travel editor

More industrial trouble is looming for Air New Zealand.

Last week international cabin crews torpedoed the airline’s planned non-stop service from Los Angeles to Auckland. Now the domestic cabin attendants are threatening to black the new Boeing 737 flights from Wellington to the Pacific Islands, due to begin on April 2. The stewards and hostesses’ union has given the airline 14 days notice of intention to take industrial action.

In an unrelated dispute, ground stewards at Auckland Airport have filed a similar notice of intent. Air New Zealand, concerned about the possible adverse effect publicity might have on forward bookings, appears to be playing down the industrial problems.

“We are confident that both matters will be settled before the 14-day periods run out,” said Mr Cameron Hill, a public relations spokesman, last evening. “They are unlikely to lead to any disruption of services,” he said.

The problem which threatens to ground the return of Air New Zealand’s international services to Wellington is believed to revolve round disagreement as to whether Auckland or Wellington crews should man the Boeing 737 flights.

The airline wants to use Auckland crews; the union wants crews from Wellington.

“We hope to have it sorted out soon,” said Mr Hill.

The dispute involving the ground stewards at Auckland stems from a reallocation of duties. The stewards are responsible for the cleaning and restocking of aircraft.

The increasing dishar-

mony between the company and the cabin attendants was further highlighted this week by their union’s call for a disputes, hearing over arguments relating to rosters.