Threat ignored, Air N.Z. strike looks certain

Press, 20 December 1984, Page 1

Threat ignored, Air N.Z. strike looks certain

LES BLOXHAM,

travel editor

All Air New Zealand flights are expected to be grounded today by striking cabin attendants who are defying a Government directive to return to work.

The attendants, members of the Airline Stewards and Hostesses’ Union, are also ignoring a threat of litigation issued by the company last evening. Hopes that the strike might be averted were dashed yesterday morning when angry union members decided in Auckland to take immediate action, in spite of the fact that conciliation talks were under way. Later, the Minister of Labour, Mr Rodger, called for a compulsory conference and ordered a return to normal work.

International flights were the first affected after attendants went oiy strike at midday. Domestic attendants said they would strike from midnight. The dispute, which has been festering for several months, will upset the holiday plans of thousands of travellers.

Five international flights involving 1500 passengers were cancelled yesterday, but the full effect will not be felt until today. Last evening, the airline was still accepting reservations for flights out of Christchurch, in spite of the union’s plan to place pickets at the airport this morning. The airline is expected progressively to cancel flights during the day if there is no settlement. This morning’s scheduled flight from Christchurch to Sydney is unlikely to take off because the Boeing 747 required for the service did not arrive from Brisbane last evening.

The aircraft was to have flown from Auckland to Brisbane yesterday afternoon, but the flight was the first to be cancelled. However, Mr Vern Mitchell, a public affairs spokesman, said late last evening that the Christchurch to Sydney flight had not been cancelled at that stage.

Mount ’ Cook Airline’s flights will not be affected, but by late yesterday there were only a few seats left on its services to Rotorua and Auckland. Union members decided to strike yesterday over Air New Zealand’s decision to implement a new computerised rostering system.

Air New Zealand’s threat of litigation was telegraphed to the union about 5.30 p.m. The telegram warned the union that if it failed to comply with Mr Rodger’s instructions for an immediate return to work, legal action would be taken against the union and its executive officers.

The company said it would also seek damages from the union and its officers. The Press Association reports that the union will seek Federation of Labour assistance in calling for an inquiry by the Ministers of Labour(and Transport (Mr Rodger and Mr Prebble) into Air New Zealand’s management.

The union has called for the special inquiry into “the

sorry industrial relations record” of the company, and recorded the crews’ “lack of confidence” in airline management. The meeting labelled the strike indefinite — until agreement was reached on the overseas roster dispute. The union’s president, Mr Peter Best, said that the resolutions were thoroughly discussed over a period of three hours. “We were appalled at the treatment we have received but we discussed every other avenue which might have avoided stranding the public,” he said.

The industrial conciliator, Mr John Bufton, said last evening he would set a time and venue for a compulsory conference “when I consider the parties have started behaving.” Mr Bufton, who delayed his holidays to bring the airline and management together yesterday, said, “I won’t be at any compulsory conference in the morning.” He agreed with an airline official that talks were making progress at the lunch break. “Then the union’s negotiator was informed by his executive that the strike had begun,” said Mr Bufton. He described the threehour morning session of talks as exhausting, but interesting. “But it is up to the politicians now, now that the union is on an illegal strike,” said Mr Bufton. In Parliament last evening Mr Rodger urged all those involved ,to return to the compulsory conference and for the industrial action to be withdrawn. “The action involved is quite massive, quite significant and unacceptable, and thoroughly unacceptable in respect of travellers on the eve of Christmas. Clearly thousands will be inconvenienced,” he said. Mr Rodger said he believed that if the direct action proceeded, it would weaken the union’s negotiating position.

He said there were few formal options available to him as Minister in law.

Air New Zealand had told Its stewards and hostesses they will be dismissed if they do not turn up on time for flights, an airline spokesman said last evening.

In a newspaper advertisement, the airline has informed union members that their planned strike has created an unnecessary crisis, and urges them to return to work.

“The company wishes to make it clear that there is no need for crisis action by your union at this time.

“The union has a record of inducing crises every year just before Christmas when the maximum pressure can be brought to bear on the company at its busiest peak period.” The advertisement urged members to bring pressure on the union executive to “see sense.”

Late last evening the union confirmed that there would be no flights this morning. A spokesman said both domestic and international cabin crew would attend stop-work meetings in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch at 9 a.m. Union officials said they were also willing to attend the compulsory conference called by the Minister of .Labour, Mr Rodger. The secretary of the union, Mr John Wilson, said after an executive meeting that cabin crew had resolved to stop work until an agreement was reached. “As far as the executive is concerned, that is the end of the matter. We are bound

by that decision,” he said. He said that the executive intended to conduct meetings with the members, but would not elaborate. The president of the Tourism Industry Council, Mr Rodney Walshe, said the strike demonstrated an incredible indifference to people. “We should not strike in this sort of industry and treat people like cattle,” he said. An Air New Zealand spokesman said last evening: “We are using a computer to enhance it (the roster). It will give cabin crew a better life style. But they choose not to believe it.”

The union claims the roster will not warn cabin crew adequately of coming shifts.