Strike threat ‘endangering jobs’

Press, 22 January 1988, Page 3

Strike threat ‘endangering jobs’

PA Nelson The Airways Corporation says fire-fighters at Nelson Airport who are threatening to strike unless jobs are guaranteed are only further endangering their jobs. The seven members of the rescue fire crew are

demanding that they keep their jobs, with the same conditions of employment, when the airport authority takes over responsibility for the service in April. The corporation is tendering to provide the service to the authority. If it won the tender, some of

the present fire-fighters would keep their jobs in Nelson. Threatening industrial action would do the corporation’s chance of winning the tender no good, the regional rescue fire officer for central New Zealand, Mr George Elphick, said.

While it may not be possible to employ all the local fire-fighters in Nelson, some may be transferred and some may opt for redundancy, Mr Elphick said. “We are making an effort to have our guys employed.”