Air NZ widebody cabin crew strike over stalled negotiations – E Tu

Air New Zealand widebody cabin crew will take two full days of strike action on Thursday 12 and Friday 13 February, after negotiations failed to deliver an offer that addresses the realities of the work widebody cabin crew do, including long haul international flights.

E tū National Secretary Rachel Mackintosh says the work done by widebody cabin crew is demanding and often misunderstood.

“These workers are the face of Air New Zealand. They welcome people to Aotearoa, they look after passengers, and they are first responders when something goes wrong onboard. They keep people safe while taking them around the world,” Rachel says.

“They are also shift workers whose rosters change every month. They work very irregular hours, they are away from their families, and there is no certainty in their work patterns. That level of instability takes a real toll.”

Rachel says low base pay and unpredictable hours are creating serious pressure at home for many workers.

“Some crew struggle to get mortgages because their base pay is so low. Others miss rent payments or put off fixing their car because they simply don’t know what their income will look like from one month to the next,” she says.

“The offer on the table does not fix these problems. Workers are calling on the company to make a realistic offer that gives them what they need during a cost-of-living crisis.”

Despite the dispute, Rachel says workers remain proud of their role and the airline they work for.

“They like working for Air New Zealand and they are proud to represent Aotearoa in this way. That is exactly what makes it so disappointing that they are not getting the respect they know they deserve.”

The strike is being undertaken by widebody aircraft workers only, with cabin crew taking action across both days.

Striking workers will also hold a picket following a strike meeting in Auckland.

When: Thursday 12 February, picket approximately 11:45am to 12:45pm
Where: Great North Road, outside Ponsonby Rugby Club

Rachel says Air New Zealand now needs to respond with a fair and realistic offer.

“The fastest way to resolve this is for Air New Zealand to return to the table with a fair and realistic offer that recognises the role these workers play as ambassadors for the airline and the country.”