Sky Chefs served strike notice

Air New Zealand's catering contractor, LSG Sky Chefs, has been served notice of industrial action by EPMU and SFWU members after the company failed to provide a decent offer or to bargain meaningfully.

Sky Chefs has also refused to write basic conditions covering hours of work into the collective - a situation that would see workers hours being determined solely by management.

EPMU national aviation organiser Strachan Crang says the strike notice is a sign of members' frustration with the company. "We've been negotiating for six weeks and Sky Chefs has just not engaged with us or made a decent offer so members feel they have no other option than to try to get the company's attention,"

"They've offered a pay rise that is considerably less than inflation and seem to have a total disrespect for their workforce," says Crang, "like refusing to look at workers' issues including allowances for people who take on responsibilities beyond their jobs."

"These workers are also on low pay by catering and hospitality standards let alone aviation standards," he says, "and to top it off the company has failed to agree to meaningful consultation clauses."

The company has been provided 14 days notice as it falls under the legal umbrella of the aviation industry and is therefore considered part of an essential service.