Aviation unions say they are very disappointed with the misleading information released by Air New Zealand in response to a strike notice by its aviation engineers.
The engineers and logistics workers have voted to issue strike notices in response to Air New Zealandโs demands for cuts to their conditions.
Air New Zealand is making record profits thanks to union members, and Engineering members have rejected the airlineโs demands for clawbacks, says Savage, E tลซโs Head of Aviation.
โNo one wants to disrupt peopleโs Christmas plans, but Air New Zealand has taken an unnecessarily aggressive approach.
โThis is not just about pay. Itโs about repeated proposals by the airline weeks out from Christmas to pay them less than colleagues who have already settled, and to cut into key conditions, including overtime rates.
โThis affects line and hangar engineers, but also store workers and aircraft cleaners, who are covered by the same document and who are struggling to get ahead,โ he says.
โOur members feel under-appreciated and under attack. The ballot results show an overwhelming resolve to take action to defend themselves.โ
Both unions have already agreed to mediation on Monday with airline representatives, to try to resolve the dispute and avert a strike, the first of which is scheduled for 21 December.
More than 970 engineering members of E tลซ and the Aviation and Marine Engineers Association voted 95 percent to strike, at meetings this week in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.
Savage says Air New Zealand has very high union membership, though strike action is extremely rare.
โAviation workers donโt make these decisions without good cause. In aviation, there is a constant downward pressure on costs driven by airlines. The result is a race to the bottom on wages and conditions,โ says Savage.
โNew Zealand needs to remain a high-wage high-skilled economy. Aviation is a life blood industry.
โWe will be in mediation with Air NZ Engineering management first thing on Monday and will carry on bargaining in good faith in the hopes of reaching a deal,โ he said.