Air NZ Customers Concerned by Easter Strike Threat

[Mike W]

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/ar...ectid=10563526

6:04PM Wednesday Mar 25, 2009

Air New Zealand says it has been fielding calls from customers concerned their Easter travel plans will be disrupted by proposed cabin crew strike action.

Flight attendants who are members of the Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union (EPMU), working for Air NZ subsidiary Zeal, say they are being paid "poverty wages", while those working directly for the parent company receive up to $30,000 more a year.

The EPMU announced industrial action yesterday, including a three-day strike to take place beginning April 8, saying six months of negotiations with Air New Zealand had failed.

However, the airline said it had gone above and beyond during negotiations to reach a realistic settlement with the Zeal crew.

Continues