The Air NZ cabin crew union is justifying the decision to schedule strike action eight days ahead of Christmas. While some cabin crew members are set to strike on December 18, the planned walkout for this Monday has been cancelled.
According to E tū National Secretary Rachel Mackintosh, domestic, trans-Tasman and Pacific crews were still awaiting an agreement, while regional and long-haul cabin crews were preparing to vote on their latest offer, which the union had advised them to accept.
Mackintosh said since there has been positive movement in the negotiations, the cabin crew members who were planning to strike next Monday have decided to postpone that strike action.
“But what they’ve seen is that putting pressure on Air New Zealand by putting on a strike notice, that was really the thing that made a difference for the other two crew,” she added.
The union had initially stated that no strike action would take place within the seven days before Christmas — and this strike, occurring eight days out, did not violate that commitment.
Mackintosh explained that, according to the law, the union was required to provide two weeks’ notice, making December 18 the earliest date they could legally hold a strike.
“We just really urge Air New Zealand to sharpen their pencils and continue to work with us.”