Air New Zealand Air Points - A320 crew strike during Easter

http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0903/S00536.htm

Just found out about this. I have a flight across the Tasman on Easter Friday. What do they normally do if my flight does get canceled? I am running on a tight schedule so can't take the risk.

I'm booked WLG-SYD on the 9/4/09 returning on 14/4/09, operated by the A320 - or perhaps not now!

I have full faith the strike will be cancelled at the last minute! :rolleyes:

Would travel insurance be of any help? Not sure if it would have to be have been booked before the strike was announced, or if you could purchase it now as long as it is before the flight gets cancelled?

Oh no, I have tran-tasman and pacific flights during this period. I think only the last leg (AKL-SYD) is A320, the rest being 767. I must have picked the right time to fly J :p

Would AirNZ cancel all their A320 trans-tasman flights as retailiation?

I'm not having any luck with my first trip to NZ after various flight/route cancelations, now this. Does anyone know how long the strike is due to last? All I can see is that it would start properly on April 8th. I'm flying MEL-CHC on April 11th on a C award and desperately need to get to CHC that day otherwise everything will start to fall apart for me.

everything will start to fall apart for me.

Hopefully the issues behind the strike will be resolved before a strike really bites, and certainly given that Zeal staff only crew A320 flights - and we haven't heard what level of support within Zeal the union has - the impact shouldn't be too drastic. I'm not an expert in New Zealand employment law, but strikes there never seem to be very disruptive or as well supported in the way they are in France or UK or elsewhere.

As a business class customer you'll be top of the list to be re-accommodated: either on QF or EK direct, or via unaffected AKL services. Are you on the lunchtime or evening CHC flight Jetstreamer? If its the evening one the worst case scenario is a forced overnight at AKL before heading for CHC early the next day.

Perhaps the airline could bring the 'resting' long haul aircraft back into service to get some extra capacity to replace the A320, or even use 733 across the Tasman. Time to watch out for NZ7XX flight numbers becoming NZ1XX flights...

Hopefully the issues behind the strike will be resolved before a strike really bites, and certainly given that Zeal staff only crew A320 flights - and we haven't heard what level of support within Zeal the union has - the impact shouldn't be too drastic. I'm not an expert in New Zealand employment law, but strikes there never seem to be very disruptive or as well supported in the way they are in France or UK or elsewhere.

As a business class customer you'll be top of the list to be re-accommodated: either on QF or EK direct, or via unaffected AKL services. Are you on the lunchtime or evening CHC flight Jetstreamer? If its the evening one the worst case scenario is a forced overnight at AKL before heading for CHC early the next day.

Perhaps the airline could bring the 'resting' long haul aircraft back into service to get some extra capacity to replace the A320, or even use 733 across the Tasman. Time to watch out for NZ7XX flight numbers becoming NZ1XX flights...

As its a Saturday I'm on the only direct flight of the day, NZ792 departing 09:50 (hopefully!) I hope you are correct that the strike will fizzle out before it gets too serious. An over night in AKL would be very bad news as I would miss the train the next morning :(

A little more info in NZ Herald story (http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10563393).

There's still time for it to be called off. If strike goes ahead AKL-SYD should be little impacted. If flying other routes to Australia I'd be prepared to be rerouted via AKL. For the Pacific islands maybe rebooked on DJ, maybe some flights crewed by other staff or switched to 767s.

I'm not saying what I outline below will happen, and I also don't know the full story, but typically, a 'strike' in NZ (the country, not the airline) goes like this...

1. Union announces a strike, saying they have no other options, and their members are treated so badly it's like slavery. Big bad corporate vs small struggling hard-working staff. Of course, the strike always just happens to be at a holiday period.
2. 'Big bad corporate' may or may not hit back with counter-claims.
3. Everything goes quiet for a few days. The union may realise the contingency plan of the corporate may actually work and the strike won't actually affect the public (as much), or the corporate comes crawling back asking for forgiveness.
4. If things aren't working out, some corporates may file an injunction to stop the strike.
5. The union will have a last minute vote to call off the strike.
6a) The strike is called off, and the union takes the moral high ground, telling the public to thank them otherwise they won't be going anywhere.
6b) On the outside chance, the union may decide to really p*ss the corporate off by taking the vote too late. They may vote to call off further industrial actions, but too late to call off this particular strike.

The hearld this morning was saying that other crew will be trained for the a320.

I think this would most likely be the spare longhaul crew from flight cut backs. Plus the longhaul crew could maybe be made to do 2 return flight on the tassie.

Hopefully the issues behind the strike will be resolved before a strike really bites, and certainly given that Zeal staff only crew A320 flights - and we haven't heard what level of support within Zeal the union has - the impact shouldn't be too drastic. I'm not an expert in New Zealand employment law, but strikes there never seem to be very disruptive or as well supported in the way they are in France or UK or elsewhere.

As a business class customer you'll be top of the list to be re-accommodated: either on QF or EK direct, or via unaffected AKL services. Are you on the lunchtime or evening CHC flight Jetstreamer? If its the evening one the worst case scenario is a forced overnight at AKL before heading for CHC early the next day.

Perhaps the airline could bring the 'resting' long haul aircraft back into service to get some extra capacity to replace the A320, or even use 733 across the Tasman. Time to watch out for NZ7XX flight numbers becoming NZ1XX flights...

Or they could put Y pax in JQ flights?! Noooooooo

The hearld this morning was saying that other crew will be trained for the a320.

I think this would most likely be the spare longhaul crew from flight cut backs. Plus the longhaul crew could maybe be made to do 2 return flight on the tassie.

I thought 100 crew had recently been laid off so I'm not sure how many spares there would be??

Can NZ flight attendants work on Zeal flights?

Can NZ flight attendants work on Zeal flights?

As long as they have done the evac producers for the A320. Which they are putting more crew though to help if the strike does go ahead.

I do know a few 737 hosties that still can do the a320s if needed

I thought 100 crew had recently been laid off so I'm not sure how many spares there would be??

I dont think they have been laided off just yet as they did recently come up with transfers to shorthaul to keep some of the crew.

Never mind - just saw that the strike is for only for 4 days. Finishing on Easter Saturday.

Interesting ... I travelled CHC-SYD on a A320 and SYD-AKL on a 767 and really noticed the difference in the crew.

Zeal320 crew on the CHC-SYD flight really didn't seem to have time for the passengers (perhaps it was a mini union meeting a few seats up) and I stuggled to catch anyone's eye for attention.

767 was completely different - really helpful and friendly crew.

I guess if you're not paid as well it makes a big difference (or viseversa...)

Can NZ flight attendants work on Zeal flights?

Yes if EP trained which most (if not all) currently aren't.

However, under the Employment Relations Act, people performing the duties of striking or locked out employees have the right to refuse to do the work.

Any new news on the proposed industrial action?

Seems to have gone quiet for a bit.

There's supposed to be a court hearing on Friday.

There's supposed to be a court hearing on Friday.

Why is there a court hearing? Forgive my ignorance, I'm not really familiar with NZ employment law!

In my previous job, when we went on strike, it had nothing to do with the courts - just between us and our employer. Are things over here a little different?

Curious on the outcome as I'm supposed to be flying WLG-SYD next Thursday!

The notice of a strike has been withdrawn,


Press Release by Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union
at 11:43 am, 02 Apr 2009


The EPMU has withdrawn its notice for Easter strike action at Air New Zealand, however the industrial action currently underway will continue.

Air New Zealand had applied to the Employment Court for an injunction to prevent the strike on the grounds that one aspect of the strike notice was unclear.

This aspect related to the question of what constituted being “in New Zealand” while on flying duties.

Having received legal advice and participated in a directions conference with the Employment Court, the union negotiating team considered that the strike notice was unlikely to survive the court action and that with other litigation initiated by both the company and the union it was better to focus our legal resources on these other issues.

Currently notified industrial action involving non-compliance with the company’s uniform policy and non-availability of staff for standby rosters will continue indefinitely.

The union negotiating team is considering re-issuing the strike notice that is the subject of the airline’s injunction and a decision will be made in the next two days.

ENDS

If they re-issue the strike notice does that mean there is still a chance of the strike going ahead over Easter or would recent events now delay any full strike action?

Interesting ... I travelled CHC-SYD on a A320 and SYD-AKL on a 767 and really noticed the difference in the crew.

Zeal320 crew on the CHC-SYD flight really didn't seem to have time for the passengers (perhaps it was a mini union meeting a few seats up) and I stuggled to catch anyone's eye for attention.

767 was completely different - really helpful and friendly crew.

I guess if you're not paid as well it makes a big difference (or viseversa...)

Interesting ... I travelled CHC-SYD on a A320 and SYD-AKL on a 767 and really noticed the difference in the crew.

Zeal320 crew on the CHC-SYD flight really didn't seem to have time for the passengers (perhaps it was a mini union meeting a few seats up) and I stuggled to catch anyone's eye for attention.

767 was completely different - really helpful and friendly crew.

I guess if you're not paid as well it makes a big difference (or viseversa...)

The difference in standard between ZEAL320 crew and NZ is very noticeable IMHO. When the TransTasman was crewed by NZ domestic, the standard was very good, and it was great to see familiar faces on the flights

If they re-issue the strike notice does that mean there is still a chance of the strike going ahead over Easter or would recent events now delay any full strike action?

My understanding is that there is a minimum time buffer between issuing a strike notice and ultimately going out on strike, so the Easter period should be safe.

Of course, watch out for Zeal (= company that employs NZ A320 cabin crew) suspending crews behaving unprofessionally as yesterday (http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10564902) and thus grounding flights.

so acting in a manner that will get you suspended achieves a level of disruption for the passenger and is a cost to the airline. I wonder if it strengthens the crews bargaining power.

to be honest in Y, and being a very undemanding passenger, I have not really noticed a difference between the crews

I have to say that personally I have always found the A320 staff to be better - more accomodating, much more friendly.

Friday last week I flew AKL - RAR on A320 and even in strike mode with stickers and hats they were better than the 767 Monday RAR - AKL crew.

There is a definite difference between the crews: on the 777/767 Tasman services sometimes you get a really rubbish crew, sometimes a mediocre crew and most often an amazing crew; while A320 crews are consistently friendly but just OK professionally, with occasional fawning over celebrities hindering the service flow.

Personally I find Galley FM to be a little louder on the A320 also... which is strange given the tiny number of cabin crew.

Why is there a court hearing? Forgive my ignorance, I'm not really familiar with NZ employment law!

In my previous job, when we went on strike, it had nothing to do with the courts - just between us and our employer. Are things over here a little different?The law is quite technical in the NZ jurisdiction with regard to strikes - google the Employment Relations Act to get a feel for it.

There was disruptions on 2nd April in SYD where I caught NZ106 SYD-AKL in late afternoon. The SYD-CHC A320 flight was cancelled because of the strike action (apparently the FAs wore fancy wigs which is not allowed). The earlier SYD-AKL A320 flight was very late as well, it only departs about 20 minutes before NZ106 . NZ106 was not affected as it is a 767. I will be catching NZ719 A320 AKL-SYD on Easter Monday and hopefully all will be sorted out.

BTW, the J service in NZ106 was absolutely excellent! So is NZ40 as well!

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/2327985/Air-NZ-cabin-crew-consider-strike

Looks like this is not over. My flight on Tuesday has been canceled. Could be the reason why. They wouldn't have canceled the first flight back to BNE after Easter Monday. I have been re-accomendated to a 747 a few hours later.

In the lounge at AKL at the moment waiting for NZ105 - looks like all the flights are on time. Aiport is pretty quiet and not much food in the lounge :( lol

Yesterday I caught NZ719 AKL-SYD. There was slight delay in departure due to lateness of flight from earlier flights. All A320 staff wear uniforms but with additional stickers stating "AirNZ ripping us off, it is time to make a stand" slogans. The flight service is unaffected. The pilot also mentioned that their staff are Zeal staff rather than AirNZ staff.

Just completed a return WLG-SYD-WLG and all flights on time. No mention of Zeal crew from the flight deck but the 'Air NZ Are Ripping Us Off' stickers were visible.

I thought the service provided was barely average. It did remind me of a holiday charter flight in the UK!

Apart from that, the IFE good, Space + seats good, Koru Lounge good. I will try and posy my first trip reports soon!

Yesterday I caught NZ719 AKL-SYD. There was slight delay in departure due to lateness of flight from earlier flights. All A320 staff wear uniforms but with additional stickers stating "AirNZ ripping us off, it is time to make a stand" slogans. The flight service is unaffected. The pilot also mentioned that their staff are Zeal staff rather than AirNZ staff.

I was on the return flight (NZ718), as per your flight was late because of weather. The service was quite good for an A320 flight but below what you get from a non Zeal service (guess I can see why the pay is different).

Couple of the crew had the stickers on which wasn't too bad. The flight service manager though had sneakers on, lots of stickers, jewellery, badly worn uniform etc - overall he looked messy and un-professional

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10567768

Flight attendants intending to go on strike in May will be locked out, Air New Zealand said this evening.

The Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union (EPMU) said today cabin crew for Air New Zealand subsidiary Zeal would launch a four day strike on May 7 as part of an ongoing pay dispute.

The strike would involve 240 flight attendants and affect all Trans-Tasman and Pacific flights serviced by Air New Zealand's Airbus A320 fleet.

EPMU national secretary Andrew Little said the action was not undertaken lightly and followed seven months of failed negotiations, in which the union had asked for Zeal workers to receive the same pay as crew members working directly for the parent company.

The only people employed by Zeal were the attendants and the sole purpose of the company was to exclude them from the terms and conditions crew working directly for the parent company had, Mr Little said.

"It's an unethical use of corporate legal structures to deprive these workers of decent conditions and the flight crew are quite rightly taking this action in an attempt to level the playing field," Mr Little said.



This is a matter of basic fairness. We'll continue to negotiate with the company in good faith until we get an agreement."

However, Air New Zealand Group general manager of short haul airlines Bruce Parton said the company would not be held to ransom and that Zeal had issued notice to EPMU that it would lock out flight attendants during the strike.

"Strike notices are often issued and then pulled at the last moment to maximise disruption," Mr Parton said.

"So, to ensure customers can count on Air New Zealand to get them where they want to go over this period, EPMU Zeal members will be locked out so as to protect the Air New Zealand schedule and enable us to commence implementation of a crew roster using alternate staff that we have ready to go."

Mr Parton said the company had respected the right for union members to strike up until now, but that they had had enough.

" Zeal is now exercising its rights under the bargaining process to issue a lock-out notice against the strike notice period to ensure customers can expect the level of service they look forward to when they fly with Air New Zealand," he said.

"Certainly they can't count on Zeal staff at the moment."

Earlier this month, flight attendants called off strike action planned for Easter after a legal challenge by Air New Zealand.

Crews have continued their protest by refusing to comply with the airline's uniform policy or to carry out stand-by duties.

The union is clearly out of touch with the competitive nature of the airline business and the fact their is a global recession.

Any update on if the strikes or lock out starting on May 7 will go ahead?

Has Air NZ said what flights will be affected? Cancelled or with "Management" attending?

Any update on if the strikes or lock out starting on May 7 will go ahead?

Has Air NZ said what flights will be affected? Cancelled or with "Management" attending?

Apparently the Lock Out is still in force, NZ expects no flights to have any problems. A320s will operate with 3 certificated Crew members (Meets CAA rules 1 to 50 passengers). Flights will have one top up crew memeber ( e.g Management). That will be given a passenger ticket, and will help with service in return they get a free trip to Aussie. And this doesnt break the rules.

Apparently the Lock Out is still in force, NZ expects no flights to have any problems. A320s will operate with 3 certificated Crew members (Meets CAA rules 1 to 50 passengers). Flights will have one top up crew memeber ( e.g Management). That will be given a passenger ticket, and will help with service in return they get a free trip to Aussie. And this doesnt break the rules.

So does that mean that in the future, anyone that offers to help with the drinks can get a free trip as well?

In the future they drop permanently from 4 to 3 and ...

"The crew are just here for your safety - some random passenger will be along shortly with your meals and drinks"

"The crew are just here for your safety - some random passenger will be along shortly with your meals and drinks"

I think you are being a bit harsh. They are not random people that wioll be helping out - they are Air NZ staff members.

There will still be 3 x Flight attendants who are all trained on the A320 and SEP's etc. The 4th "helper" will only be helping out with meal sercice (Similar to the drag queens on the pink flight I guess". They will not be sitting in jump seats or wearing the uniform.

Press Release

Tasman and Pacific Island services will continue to operate - Air New
Zealand

Air New Zealand is reassuring customers that Tasman and Pacific Island
services will continue to operate during the four-day strike by Zeal
EPMU members which begins Thursday and runs through Mother's Day
weekend.

Group General Manager Short Haul Airlines Bruce Parton says the airline
has comprehensive plans in place to ensure schedules are maintained and
the 20,000 customers travelling over this period are unaffected by
strike action. Zeal 320 Ltd has issued lock-out notices to Zeal EMPU
members in response to their strike notice.

Over the four-day period, some services will operate using different Air
New Zealand aircraft, including the Boeing 767, 777 and 747s.

Mr Parton says the airline is confident that passengers will continue to
receive a high quality of service and uniquely Kiwi experience when
travelling with Air New Zealand over the strike period.

"We have approximately 100 staff trained to act as alternative crew and
they will be assisted by colleagues from throughout the business,
including myself, Chief Executive Officer Rob Fyfe, members of our
management team, corporate and operational staff. We are looking forward
to seeing our customers online, as we do regularly.

Mr Parton says the airline has been overwhelmed by support from Air New
Zealanders volunteering their support over the strike period. "We have
had more staff than the entire number of Zeal employees put their hands
up to help out."

The EPMU has walked away from pay offers from Zeal of several thousand
dollars for members including a base pay increase of nearly 4% and
allowance increases of almost 8%.

Mr Parton said Air New Zealand would continue to work with the EMPU to
try and reach a satisfactory settlement.

Air New Zealand wishes to advise that Tasman and Pacific Island services will continue to operate during the four-day strike by Zeal EPMU members which begins Thursday and runs through Mother’s Day weekend. Comprehensive plans are in place to ensure schedules are maintained and the 20,000 customers travelling over this period are unaffected by strike action. Over the four-day period some services will operate using different Air New Zealand aircraft, including the Boeing 767, 777 and 747s. Passengers will continue to receive a high quality of service and uniquely Kiwi experience when travelling with Air New Zealand over the strike period.

I noticed 5 x 744's parked up on the ground last weekend so they seem to have the long haul (widebody) capacity to cover.

Anyone else see EMPU (Andrew Little) on TV1 this morning. He was plain rude and didn't get any respect from me. He claimed that the meal service is going to be a messy & expect coffee to be split on you by AirNZ management helping out the crew.

Later on they had NZ's shorthaul Manager, he seemed very clear that Zeal Crew need to grow up and take the 43k pay packet or quit and reminded people that Zeal Crew work 30hrs pw.

I agree, they need to take the payrise and get on with their jobs, otherwise they should face the sack. I'm sick of their attitude, they get offered the increase when all industries are suffering and airlines are pay freezing, yet they continue to push the boundaries. They are protesting outside Head Office this morning, no way i was going to beep in support.

I agree, they need to take the payrise and get on with their jobs, otherwise they should face the sack. I'm sick of their attitude, they get offered the increase when all industries are suffering and airlines are pay freezing, yet they continue to push the boundaries. They are protesting outside Head Office this morning, no way i was going to beep in support.

Seen page A16 in the NZ Herald yet, they look pathetic. The add complains that they do the same amount of work as other NZ Cabin crew. Well no they don't. So they are complaining that AKL-SYD-AKl is hard well they should try what some domestic crew do in a day AKL-WLG-AKL-CHC-AKL-WLG-AKL-CHC-AKL.

NZ mentioned on the News this morning that they are one step away from getting rid of all the current Zeal crew. They are currently exploring other options and would like to remind ZealCrew when they advertise for one A32o FA they get 300 people applying. And they mentioned that ZealCrew get 10% more than Jet Connect Crew.

I can price MEL - CHC and get airfares MEL-AKL-CHC or MEL-CHC exactly the same. And MEL-AKL is on a 767 / 777 / 747

If the airfare is the same, the work is the same, why not pay the crew the same.

Flying on Sunday - would be cool to get a 767 instead of a A320, but as the plane goes CHC-MEL-WLG-MEL-CHC, I doubt they will put a 767 onto this route.

(Can a 767 even land in WLG?)

Any idea how we can track the substitutions?

If the airfare is the same, the work is the same, why not pay the crew the same.

Take a look at QF. You have lower piad Jetconnect/BKK/QCCA crew working the same aircraft as the higher paid QF LH crew.

The guys at ZEAL knew the salary before they joined... If they don;t like it leave and fly for Jetconnect... oh hang on, Jetconnect salary is 10% lower than ZEAL....

They can't see the NZ long haul salary as the norm... especially when they are competing on ZEAL routes with JQ/DJ/QF all on lower salaries than NZ long haul FA's.

Any idea how we can track the substitutions?

If you do a dummy booking you can see the substituted a/c type. Eg AKL-RAR-AKL this weekend now on 767 and 777 a/c (hence all the auction offers for 2 nights in RAR ;) ).

NZ703 AKL-SYD
NZ704 SYD-AKL

Cancelled today Fri 8th May - due to the strike or something else?

Air NZ reported yesterday they had decided to cancel 4 A320 flights during the strike period which had low loads on routes with alternative flights. I guess 703 and 704 are 2 of the 4 flights.

If you do a dummy booking you can see the substituted a/c type. Eg AKL-RAR-AKL this weekend now on 767 and 777 a/c (hence all the auction offers for 2 nights in RAR ;) ).

Would they be able to use a 747 on that route? Standing on the beach road at the end of the runway with a 747 landing would be an interesting experience... (but potentially a little TOO loud and interesting)
I know they can use a 747 to NAN, but what about TBU, APW and RAR? Are the runways long enough? I believe TBU is an emergency diversion airport for 747s so I guess normal scheduled service shouldn't be a problem.

Would they be able to use a 747 on that route? Standing on the beach road at the end of the runway with a 747 landing would be an interesting experience... (but potentially a little TOO loud and interesting)
I know they can use a 747 to NAN, but what about TBU, APW and RAR? Are the runways long enough? I believe TBU is an emergency diversion airport for 747s so I guess normal scheduled service shouldn't be a problem.

They used to fly 742 to RAR so i suppose a 744 could use RAR with a light load.

This is certainly an interesting discussion. Here is the blog (http://zealgirl.wordpress.com/) of one of the more active union members.