Air NZ engineering claims meetings held

Air New Zealand Engineering Services meetings were held this week for members to ratify variations in their existing collective and to discuss the steps towards its upcoming renegotiation.

The negotiations will be the first since the renegotiation of terms and conditions under the threat of outsourcing two years ago and members are keen to get a share of the gains Air New Zealand has made since the restructuring.

EPMU national aviation organiser Strachan Crang says members are still feeling the effects of the restructuring. “Two years ago these workers bit the bullet and lost pay and conditions when the company was struggling and now the business is turning around they rightly expect a fair share of the good times.”

“The company is struggling to recruit and retain staff,” says Crang, “and terms and conditions are a big part of this. We’d expect this situation will be reflected at the negotiating table.”

The EPMU represents nearly 700 Air New Zealand Engineers across Auckland and Christchurch and is working jointly with the Aviation and Marine Engineers Association which has around 300 members.