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Air NZ wages will be decided by negotiation, not decree – EPMU
The Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union says an edict made by Air New Zealand that pay increases for staff on individual agreements will be frozen or capped at a low rate will not dictate the outcome of EPMU collective negotiations with the airline.
The instructions were delivered in a CEO message last week and come as the EPMU is in dispute with the airline over Zeal 320 negotiations and prepares to negotiate the Airports agreement – the largest collective agreement Air New Zealand is party to.
EPMU national secretary Andrew Little says pay rises for union members at Air New Zealand will be decided across the negotiating table.
“Under New Zealand law, wages and conditions are set by good faith bargaining, not by a decree of the CEO.
“With this in mind we’ll be sitting down to negotiate with Air New Zealand in exactly the same way we always do and we will take into account our members’ democratically chosen claims as well as matters of company profit, increases in the cost of living and other economic factors as we always do.
“We would hope that non-union members on individual employment agreements at Air New Zealand would also be dealt with through good faith negotiations as is their right in law.”
The EPMU represents more than 4000 aviation workers most of whom are employed by Air New Zealand or its subsidiaries.
ENDS”
All week everyone at Zeal and the union can talk about is collecting money and food parcels, as we have many memebers unable to survive on this income we have! We only striked for four days to voice our opinions an let the company know how we feel. It just goes to show how four days without pay has upset the balance in the many families of people doing our job, we live not even week to week it’s day to day and to lose four days pay we have families who can’t eat and pay bills……this is a big wake up call to us it just refreshes the issue that we can’t afford not to improve our conditions…. when you think of a flight attendant you think glamour and travel, well the reality is it’s safety, security, solving problems for people and customer service plus! and instead of designer clothes and travelling to fabulous destinations for some of us at Air NZ the “Zeal crew” it’s having 2nd jobs and having to accept food parcels!
I am so impressed with our unity and team work, xoxo Zeal Girl
