From the picket line

Written By: - Date published: 2:52 pm, May 8th, 2009 - 19 comments
Categories: workers' rights - Tags: ,

A Zeal worker on the picket line in Wellington explains why she and her workmates are taking strike action at Air New Zealand:

There’s also a report from the picket line at The Hand Mirror, photos from the pickets here and a timetable of when pickets are happening around the country here for those who want to offer their solidarity. Great stuff.

Update: Donation details here.

19 comments on “From the picket line ”

  1. Peter Johns - bigoted troll in jerkoff mode 1

    Banned for life. Take your filth elsewhere. – Eddie.

  2. Ephemera 2

    @Peter Johns

    Talk like a grown up or shut up.

  3. MikeE 3

    Theres a recession/depression going on – and these guys are on strike?

    I could understand this in a strong economy etc, but with layoffs going on all around us, you’d think the next 12 months or so would be the ideal time ot hunker down and work.

  4. Tripod 4

    That would make sense Mike E except Air NZ is still a profitable company and can afford to pay people doing an equivalent job far higher wages. Even when a company’s profits are booming this does not mean wage increases for workers; it means greater profits for shareholders.

    Air NZ has been laying workers off for years, even when there was no recession and its profits were increasing (groundstaff restructuring in 2007, cleaners being outsourced, threats to outsource finance to Fiji)

    The workers didn’t cause the recession they shouldn’t have to pay for it. Why are you telling them to “hunker down and work” as if they don’t do this anyway? Their pay claim is probably eclipsed by the increase given to Rob Fyfe in any event.

    I say all power to the flight attendants and good on them for sticking up for each other and the rest of us. They’ve got my support 100%. (Plus the attendants in the EPMU ads are babes which always helps)

  5. coge 5

    Heck, some would say they are lucky to have a job right now. The people who claim to represent them are really representing themselves. Thankfully most Kiwis already understand this.

    • Eddie 5.1

      coge.

      The union officials are employed by the members of the union. The union officials don’t stand to gain anything by pushing workers out on strike.

      Strikes only happen when the workers vote to go on strike after bargaining has broken down.

      The workers choose to go on strike, they are the ones out there picketing. They’re not being driven into anything by the union officials, their employees.

      And, so what if there’s a recession, that’s no excuse for them not to get fair pay. Air NZ is profitable and it could afford to give Rob Fyfe a pay rise of $1.5 million last year. The Zeal320 staff only want $1.5 million between the 250 of them.

      Face it you are opposing the strike out of blind ideology.

  6. Eddie 6

    MikeE. The pay rises they want total to the same amount that Rob Fyfe alone got last year.

    You read that right – 250 people wanting about $6,000 each, as a step towards pay parity with people doing the same work. Comes to $1.5 million. That’s the pay rise Fyfe alone got last year.

    It’s just $1.5 million a year for a profitable company with a turnover in the hundreds of millions.

    The flight attendants aren’t asking much. It’s Fyfe and his henchmen who are the problem, this is the first step for them in lowering wages and conditions for other Air NZ workers.

    • MikeE 6.1

      Eddie, with your obvious managerial excellence and business skills, and the obvious ease of running a large firm such as air NZ, can you please explain why you don’t have the top job, if its so easy?

      • Maynard J 6.1.1

        Piss poor response MikeE. Eddie did not say that Fyfe’s job was easy. If you are going to resort to petty answers try have them bare some resemblance to what has been said.

      • bilbo 6.1.2

        I’m sure Fyfe’s job is just as hard as it was when he was on 1.6 million per year – I’m not sure why he deserves a 1.5 million pay rise ……. I mean to say I could understand this kind of pay rise in a strong economy etc, but with layoffs going on all around us, you’d think the next 12 months or so would be the ideal time ot hunker down and work not take extravagant pay rises.

  7. Donation details are up here.

  8. Eddie 8

    Updated. Thanks I/S.

  9. Nikki 9

    More pics from Welly yesterday if anyone wants to use them (in support!)

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/redheadeddevilchild/sets/72157617806807288/

  10. jagilby 10

    I’m willing to be informed here but $43,000 seems like reasonable pay to serve a muffin and coffee (and granted be responsible in the very unlikely case that a tragedy were to occur). I know alot of people down at my local coffee shop who do earn alot less and actually prepare the food too.

    Could be wrong but I saw AirNZ’s reply on TV and it indicated that these workers are comparing their pay to long-haul stewards when they bring up the whole “$30,000 less pay for the same job” argument. Those (very public) statements to me seem to be very misleading given the far greater commitment (flight times, away from family etc) of long haul stewards.

    • itbit 10.1

      Jagilby, cast your mind back to a time just a few months ago when Rob Fyfe was telling the public that the flight attendents were offered a 4.5% pay increase to $41,000 for a new entrant and up to $60,000 for ISM/trainer/checker. Then try to think again (I know this might be hard but just try) about Bruce Parton’s appearance on Breakfast when he claimed that the Zeal attendants were on, and I say ON, as in implying that they are currently paid, $43,000 for a new entrant FA. Now read that again and think, does this add up? Perhaps Fyfe got confused and Bruce had a bit of a slip of the tongue? Or maybe neither of them have their facts right?

      Seems they don’t.

      The Zeal FA’s starting rate is $25,695. With the $4.87 allowance (about $40 a working day). Doesn’t look like $43,000 to me. Or $41,000, whichever it was because I don’t know because none of the Air NZ big wigs who get their faces on TV seem to know either.

      And serve coffee and muffins? Well maybe when your mother has just had a heart attack on board you’ll be thanking your lucky stars the cabin attendants can work the defib, the oxygen, the various drugs and bits and pieces in the emergency equipment. You’ll be glad for their calm headedness in the all-too-over-whelming-for-you situtation and their patience, kindness and compassion, which for the most part is an essential “skill” when dealing with a lot of people, many of whom aren’t all that grateful for it.

      Perhaps you’ll laugh at that but that’s what they’re trained for and maybe one day you’ll learn to be grateful too for the people who are just there to serve you coffee and muffins.

  11. JD 11

    You are misinformed jagilby.
    http://www.epmu.org.nz/news/show/172789

    Air New Zealand are lying about the wages. That’s part of the reason why the crew are so angry. The base rate is $28,000 plus $4.87 per hour in allowances to cover food, clothing, drycleaning, transport, everything. You can’t trust a thing Fyfe’s goons say.

  12. coge 12

    Eddie, funny how there were buggar all strikes under Labour, when in essence nothing has really has changed. Still got to be careful striking, not great PR when there has been a general re-aligning of the broader electorates politics. Interesting to see how the MSM covers it.

    • Ephemera 12.1

      Coge, are you implying that the EPMU is striking out of spite of the ruling party?

      “Funny how New Zealand always enters recession under a National government, when in essence nothing really has changed. Still got be careful overseeing a shrinking economy, not good PR…”

Links to post

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • EV road user charges bill passes
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed the passing of legislation to move light electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) into the road user charges system from 1 April.  “It was always intended that EVs and PHEVs would be exempt from road user charges until they reached two ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Bill targets illegal, unregulated fishing in international waters
    New Zealand is strengthening its ability to combat illegal fishing outside its domestic waters and beef up regulation for its own commercial fishers in international waters through a Bill which had its first reading in Parliament today. The Fisheries (International Fishing and Other Matters) Amendment Bill 2023 sets out stronger ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Reserve Bank appointments
    Economists Carl Hansen and Professor Prasanna Gai have been appointed to the Reserve Bank Monetary Policy Committee, Finance Minister Nicola Willis announced today. The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is the independent decision-making body that sets the Official Cash Rate which determines interest rates.  Carl Hansen, the executive director of Capital ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Stronger protections for apartment owners
    Apartment owners and buyers will soon have greater protections as further changes to the law on unit titles come into effect, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “The Unit Titles (Strengthening Body Corporate Governance and Other Matters) Amendment Act had already introduced some changes in December 2022 and May 2023, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Travel focused on traditional partners and Middle East
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters will travel to Egypt and Europe from this weekend.    “This travel will focus on a range of New Zealand’s traditional diplomatic and security partnerships while enabling broad engagement on the urgent situation in Gaza,” Mr Peters says.   Mr Peters will attend the NATO Foreign ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Keep safe on our roads this Easter
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown is encouraging all road users to stay safe, plan their journeys ahead of time, and be patient with other drivers while travelling around this Easter long weekend. “Road safety is a responsibility we all share, and with increased traffic on our roads expected this Easter we ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Cost of living support for over 1.4 million Kiwis
    About 1.4 million New Zealanders will receive cost of living relief through increased government assistance from April 1 909,000 pensioners get a boost to Superannuation, including 5000 veterans 371,000 working-age beneficiaries will get higher payments 45,000 students will see an increase in their allowance Over a quarter of New Zealanders ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Tenancy reviews for social housing restart
    Ensuring social housing is being provided to those with the greatest needs is front of mind as the Government restarts social housing tenancy reviews, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. “Our relentless focus on building a strong economy is to ensure we can deliver better public services such as social ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary plan halted
    The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary will not go ahead, with Cabinet deciding to stop work on the proposed reserve and remove the Bill that would have established it from Parliament’s order paper. “The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary Bill would have created a 620,000 sq km economic no-go zone,” Oceans and Fisheries Minister ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Cutting all that dam red tape
    Dam safety regulations are being amended so that smaller dams won’t be subject to excessive compliance costs, Minister for Building and Construction Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on reducing costs and removing unnecessary red tape so we can get the economy back on track.  “Dam safety regulations ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Drought support extended to parts of North Island
    The coalition Government is expanding the medium-scale adverse event classification to parts of the North Island as dry weather conditions persist, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced today. “I have made the decision to expand the medium-scale adverse event classification already in place for parts of the South Island to also cover the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Passage of major tax bill welcomed
    The passing of legislation giving effect to coalition Government tax commitments has been welcomed by Finance Minister Nicola Willis.  “The Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill will help place New Zealand on a more secure economic footing, improve outcomes for New Zealanders, and make our tax system ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Lifting economy through science, tertiary sectors
    Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins and Tertiary Education and Skills Minister Penny Simmonds today announced plans to transform our science and university sectors to boost the economy. Two advisory groups, chaired by Professor Sir Peter Gluckman, will advise the Government on how these sectors can play a greater ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government announces Budget priorities
    The Budget will deliver urgently-needed tax relief to hard-working New Zealanders while putting the government’s finances back on a sustainable track, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says.  The Finance Minister made the comments at the release of the Budget Policy Statement setting out the Government’s Budget objectives. “The coalition Government intends ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government to consider accommodation solution
    The coalition Government will look at options to address a zoning issue that limits how much financial support Queenstown residents can get for accommodation. Cabinet has agreed on a response to the Petitions Committee, which had recommended the geographic information MSD uses to determine how much accommodation supplement can be ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government approves extension to Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care
    Cabinet has agreed to a short extension to the final reporting timeframe for the Royal Commission into Abuse in Care from 28 March 2024 to 26 June 2024, Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden says.                                         “The Royal Commission wrote to me on 16 February 2024, requesting that I consider an ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • $18m boost for Kiwis travelling to health treatment
    The coalition Government is delivering an $18 million boost to New Zealanders needing to travel for specialist health treatment, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says.   “These changes are long overdue – the National Travel Assistance (NTA) scheme saw its last increase to mileage and accommodation rates way back in 2009.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • PM’s Prizes for Space to showcase sector’s talent
    The Government is recognising the innovative and rising talent in New Zealand’s growing space sector, with the Prime Minister and Space Minister Judith Collins announcing the new Prime Minister’s Prizes for Space today. “New Zealand has a growing reputation as a high-value partner for space missions and research. I am ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Concerns conveyed to China over cyber activity
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government.     “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity, attributed to groups sponsored by the Chinese Government, targeting democratic institutions in both New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Independent Reviewers appointed for School Property Inquiry
    Independent Reviewers appointed for School Property Inquiry Education Minister Erica Stanford today announced the appointment of three independent reviewers to lead the Ministerial Inquiry into the Ministry of Education’s School Property Function.  The Inquiry will be led by former Minister of Foreign Affairs Murray McCully. “There is a clear need ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Brynderwyns open for Easter
    State Highway 1 across the Brynderwyns will be open for Easter weekend, with work currently underway to ensure the resilience of this critical route being paused for Easter Weekend to allow holiday makers to travel north, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Today I visited the Brynderwyn Hills construction site, where ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Speech to the Infrastructure Funding & Financing Conference
    Introduction Good morning to you all, and thanks for having me bright and early today. I am absolutely delighted to be the Minister for Infrastructure alongside the Minister of Housing and Resource Management Reform. I know the Prime Minister sees the three roles as closely connected and he wants me ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Parliamentary network breached by the PRC
    New Zealand stands with the United Kingdom in its condemnation of People’s Republic of China (PRC) state-backed malicious cyber activity impacting its Electoral Commission and targeting Members of the UK Parliament. “The use of cyber-enabled espionage operations to interfere with democratic institutions and processes anywhere is unacceptable,” Minister Responsible for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • NZ to provide support for Solomon Islands election
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Defence Minister Judith Collins today announced New Zealand will provide logistics support for the upcoming Solomon Islands election. “We’re sending a team of New Zealand Defence Force personnel and two NH90 helicopters to provide logistics support for the election on 17 April, at the request ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • NZ-EU FTA gains Royal Assent for 1 May entry to force
    The European Union Free Trade Agreement Legislation Amendment Bill received Royal Assent today, completing the process for New Zealand’s ratification of its free trade agreement with the European Union.    “I am pleased to announce that today, in a small ceremony at the Beehive, New Zealand notified the European Union ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • COVID-19 inquiry attracts 11,000 submissions
    Public consultation on the terms of reference for the Royal Commission into COVID-19 Lessons has concluded, Internal Affairs Minister Hon Brooke van Velden says.  “I have been advised that there were over 11,000 submissions made through the Royal Commission’s online consultation portal.” Expanding the scope of the Royal Commission of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Families to receive up to $75 a week help with ECE fees
    Hardworking families are set to benefit from a new credit to help them meet their early childcare education (ECE) costs, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. From 1 July, parents and caregivers of young children will be supported to manage the rising cost of living with a partial reimbursement of their ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Unlocking a sustainable, low-emissions future
    A specialised Independent Technical Advisory Group (ITAG) tasked with preparing and publishing independent non-binding advice on the design of a "green" (sustainable finance) taxonomy rulebook is being established, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says.  “Comprising experts and market participants, the ITAG's primary goal is to deliver comprehensive recommendations to the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Chief of Army thanked for his service
    Defence Minister Judith Collins has thanked the Chief of Army, Major General John Boswell, DSD, for his service as he leaves the Army after 40 years. “I would like to thank Major General Boswell for his contribution to the Army and the wider New Zealand Defence Force, undertaking many different ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Minister to meet Australian counterparts and Manufacturing Industry Leaders
    25 March 2024 Minister to meet Australian counterparts and Manufacturing Industry Leaders Small Business, Manufacturing, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly will travel to Australia for a series of bi-lateral meetings and manufacturing visits. During the visit, Minister Bayly will meet with his Australian counterparts, Senator Tim Ayres, Ed ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Government commits nearly $3 million for period products in schools
    Government commits almost $3 million for period products in schools The Coalition Government has committed $2.9 million to ensure intermediate and secondary schools continue providing period products to those who need them, Minister of Education Erica Stanford announced today. “This is an issue of dignity and ensuring young women don’t ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Speech – Making it easier to build.
    Good morning, it’s great to be here.   First, I would like to acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of Building Surveyors and thank you for the opportunity to be here this morning.  I would like to use this opportunity to outline the Government’s ambitious plan and what we hope to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Pacific youth to shine from boost to Polyfest
    Minister for Pacific Peoples Dr Shane Reti has announced the Government’s commitment to the Auckland Secondary Schools Māori and Pacific Islands Cultural Festival, more commonly known as Polyfest. “The Ministry for Pacific Peoples is a longtime supporter of Polyfest and, as it celebrates 49 years in 2024, I’m proud to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • 2024 Ngarimu VC and 28th (Māori) Battalion Memorial Scholarships announced
    ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Speech to Breast Cancer Foundation – Insights Conference
    Before moving onto the substance of today’s address, I want to recognise the very significant and ongoing contribution the Breast Cancer Foundation makes to support the lives of New Zealand women and their families living with breast cancer. I very much enjoy working with you. I also want to recognise ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Kiwi research soars to International Space Station
    New Zealand has notched up a first with the launch of University of Canterbury research to the International Space Station, Science, Innovation and Technology and Space Minister Judith Collins says. The hardware, developed by Dr Sarah Kessans, is designed to operate autonomously in orbit, allowing scientists on Earth to study ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Speech to the New Zealand Planning Institute
    Introduction Thank you for inviting me to speak with you today and I’m sorry I can’t be there in person. Yesterday I started in Wellington for Breakfast TV, spoke to a property conference in Auckland, and finished the day speaking to local government in Christchurch, so it would have been ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Support for Northland emergency response centre
    The Coalition Government is contributing more than $1 million to support the establishment of an emergency multi-agency coordination centre in Northland. Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell announced the contribution today during a visit of the Whangārei site where the facility will be constructed.  “Northland has faced a number ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Celebrating 20 years of Whakaata Māori
    New Zealanders have enjoyed a broader range of voices telling the story of Aotearoa thanks to the creation of Whakaata Māori 20 years ago, says Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka. The minister spoke at a celebration marking the national indigenous media organisation’s 20th anniversary at their studio in Auckland on ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Some commercial fishery catch limits increased
    Commercial catch limits for some fisheries have been increased following a review showing stocks are healthy and abundant, Ocean and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The changes, along with some other catch limit changes and management settings, begin coming into effect from 1 April 2024. "Regular biannual reviews of fish ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-03-29T08:38:47+00:00