Air N.Z. crew evidence at hearing

Press, 14 March 1985, Page 20

Air N.Z. crew evidence at hearing

PA Auckland Three Air New Zealand cabin crew who refused to crew a flight last year because of fatigue are having their case heard by the Arbitration Court. The case is being brought against Air New Zealand by the Airline Stewards and Hostesses’ Union. Counsel for the union, Mr John Haigh, said none of the three workers was dismissed, but all had had their employment disadvantaged because of unjustified acts by their employer. The three workers

refused to do a duty from Los Angeles to Honolulu on April 6, 1984, because of fatigue, in accordance with a provision of their award. That was not accepted by Air New Zealand staff in Los Angeles and they were ordered, on at least two occasions, to make the flight. They also refused a company request for a medical examination to decide their fitness to work and said they needed rest there and then, which would not be possible even if they travelled as passengers. The three were suspended

and ordered to fly home as passengers the next day. Air New Zealand held an inquiry and each worker was “subjected to an intense interrogation,” Mr Haigh said. Air New Zealand then transferred the three to domestic duties — in effect a demotion — but they were allowed back on short-haul flights after appealing. The three crew members — Robert George Page, Jennifer Mary Kornman, and Elizabeth Jane Andrews — all gave evidence detailing their fatigue, their inability to work, and refusing

under the fatigue section of their award to do so. Mrs Kornman, a stewardess, told the Court yesterday that she was nicknamed “Shorthaul Call Girl” after her involvement in an industrial dispute over roster hours last year. Mrs Kornman said that the name was part of the personal anguish, humiliation, and embarrassment she suffered because of the incident. Mr Page said he had had only 90 minutes rest on the 13-hour, 44-minute flight from London. Because of the time change, he had less

than three hours sleep in Los Angeles and felt “totally unfit” to fly on to Honolulu. “I refused to take responsibility for the safety of passengers and crew in the condition I was in,” he said. Mrs Kornman said she had a headache, her body ached, and she felt faint when she tried to stand. Both telephoned in sick but were ordered to work the Honolulu service. They refused and Air New Zealand subsequently ordered them to fly only a shorthaul service. The hearing continues.