Airport firemen to strike over tender plans

Press, 23 January 1988, Page 3

Airport firemen to strike over tender plans

By

NIGEL MALTHUS

Christchurch Airport fire-fighters plan to strike from midnight on February 6 over plans to put the crash rescue fire service up for tender. Such a strike would stop all international services through the airport, and probably domestic services as well, although individual domestic operators could choose to continue.

Mr John McKenzie, Canterbury secretary of the Public Service Association, said that 14 days strike notice was issued yesterday. It had been delayed only so the action would not disrupt school holiday travel.

The fire-fighters had decided more than a week ago to take action over plans to put the service out to contract.

They had learned through the news media that their jobs were not going to be available after March 31, said Mr McKenzie.

The dispute has arisen because of the Government’s decision that individual airport authori-

ties should maintain their own crash fire service, instead of the nationallyfunded and controlled service now run by the Airways Corporation. The change is due to take effect on April 1. The Christchurch Airport Authority has called for proposals from interested parties. The Airways Corporation, with its existing equipment and personnel, is expected to be a main contender. Mr McKenzie said that, whoever took over the service, it was likely that some of the existing, trained personnel would be kept on. He was sure, however, that some would lose their jobs.

The service would be downgraded to a price, rather than improved to a standard, he said.

A proposal being considered for Auckland Airport would mean 20 of its 60 crash firemen losing their jobs, said Mr McKenzie. He said that Christchurch was a category nine airport, under an International Civil Aviation Organisation code which prescribed a mini-

mum! fire-fighting capability. The code did not prescribe minimum staff numbers, but Mr McKenzie believed that even the present staff level — 31 — was not sufficient to man the equipment properly. He predicted that under the new arrangement, manning would be “cut to the core.”

The P.S.A. had sought assurances that the Christchurch staff would all be kept on, that their working conditions would be maintained and that they would continue under P.S;A. union coverage. However, there had been no communication at all from either the Airport Authority or the corporation, said Mr McKenzie.

The airport director, Mr Hugh McCarroll, would not comment on the strike threat.

Proposals for the reorganised service were due on Monday. A full report would then be prepared, and presented to the City. Council’s airport committee for consideration at its February 4 meeting, he said.