Cabin crews’ rosters cleared

Press, 7 April 1984, Page 8

Cabin crews’ rosters cleared

PA Auckland The Civil Aviation authorities have cleared on health and safety grounds a new pattern of rosters devised by Air New Zealand for its cabin crews. The Airline Stewards and Hostesses’ Union has been in conflict with the airline over the implementation of the new rosters on health and safety grounds. It said the new rosters did not allow cabin crews enough rest and therefore could threaten safety because of fatigue. The director of the Civil Aviation Division of the Ministry of Transport, Air Commodore Stuart Mclntyre, yesterday notified the union and the airline that Civil Aviation considered the new rosters would not adversely affect the performance of cabin crews in safety drills and emergency

procedures. The public affairs manager of Air New Zealand, Mr R. G. Wallace, said the decision verified the airline’s belief that safety was not an issue of the rosters. He said the airline was now confident that the union would continue to work within the terms of its award and in spite of a stop-work meeting today the airline was confident that no flight would be disrupted.

Air New Zealand has two flights this evening. Flight TE2, the inaugural non-stop flight to Los Angeles which continues to London, is due to depart at 10 p.m. At 8.40 p.m., flight TE4 is due for Los Angeles.

The union will meet at the Auckland Trades Hall this afternoon to discuss the new roster patterns.