Union suggestion ‘quite bizarre’

Press, 23 April 1984, Page 4

Union suggestion ‘quite bizarre’

PA Auckland A union suggestion that the Government is looking for a showdown so it can “bash unions and win public support” was described by an Air New Zealand spokesman last evening as quite bizarre.

The president of the Airline Stewards and Hostesses’ Union, Mr Peter Best, was reported by the “New Zealand Times” to have said it believes the Government was using the airline to force a showdown with such an aim in mind. The union and Air New

Zealand have been in conflict for over a year on a number of matters. The latest is a roster which the union says allows cabin crew insufficient rest after long flights. Mr Best was reported to have said at the week-end that he was bemused by the airline’s reaction to cabin crew claims of fatigue.

He said he considered the airline’s action in reassigning four international cabin crew members to domestic services after their complaining of fatigue had the makings of a strike which the Government could ex-

ploit by deregistering the union and fighting an election on the consequent industrial chaos. An Air New Zealand spokesman said, “His (Mr Best’s) claims regarding the political-strike implications are quite bizarre.” In respect to the roster dispute, the spokesman said union representatives were thoroughly consulted and offered options before the matter went to conciliation. The airline, he said, was now acting under a conciliation directive, and he noted that the union had sought to go to conciliation.