Air New Zealand faces expanded Xmas strike threat

The threat of Christmas strike action against Air New Zealand has widened with the airline saying it has been served with two tranches of strike notices now covering December 21, 22 and 23. The carrier said it will on Wednesday enter a third day of negotiations with unions the Aviation and Marine Engineers Association (AMEA) and E tū. It has yet to post flight delays or cancellations for the days of the proposed strikes and said normal fare conditions remain. It is advising customers advised to sign up to Air New Zealand travel alerts and ensure their contact information is in their booking to receive the latest flight information Meanwhile, Air New Zealand general manager customer experience Anita Hawthorne said the airline would do all it could to get customers where they need to be this Christmas. “We know customers are very concerned about their travel plans at this important time of the year and unfortunately we are not in a position to provide certainty at this time,’’ she said. “We would like to reassure customers that we remain committed to mediation with unions and we are still hopeful of reaching a resolution which sees strike action averted. “We are working on contingency plans to keep our flights moving the best we can if, as a worst-case scenario, strike action should go ahead - unfortunately, some disruption would be inevitable though.” READ Longest Air New Zealand flight hits Chicago running. The AMEA said earlier this week it had hoped to have its collective agreement negotiations concluded by now but members had voted overwhelmingly to reject a pay increase of 2 percent in the first year and then 3 percent over the next 18 months. The offer also contained a clawback that would reduce all overtime payments back to time and a half in a period Air New Zealand was making substantial profits. “We have been in negotiations with Air New Zealand for months,’’ AMEA national secretary Jacqui Roberts said. “If Air New Zealand was genuinely concerned about its customers, it would have resolved this matter early and quietly. That is good management."   The union is also worried AirNZ will send narrowbody heavy maintenance work performed in Christchurch overseas.