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Airline Managers Set to Load Aircraft During Strike

Posted on: Tuesday, 20 September 2005, 15:01 CDT

QUEENSTOWN -- Mount Cook Airline managers have been given training on loading aircraft and are ready to do the work during a strike by Queenstown Airport ground staff due to start this morning.

The 55 ground staff agreed on Monday to strike over the airline's refusal to meet their demand for a 5 percent pay rise for the next two years.

The mainly ticketing and baggage handling workers may continue to strike during the busy weekend.

Mount Cook Airlines general manager Peter O'Regan said management staff had been having training this week so they could replace the workers. Most had previous experience but were having refresher training, he said.

They were also learning about working at Queenstown airport.

Mount Cook Airlines has the contract to provide ground support to Qantas and Air New Zealand.

But today the workers would provide support only to their own aircraft -- the ATR 172s that fly in Air New Zealand colours.

Staff from Air New Zealand would be brought in to service Qantas and Air New Zealand jets.

Engineering Printing and Manufacturing Union representative Ged O'Connell said the union would be investigating whether that plan amounted to illegal strike-breaking.

If so, it may seek an injunction to stop the airlines operating with the shipped-in ground staff.

Striking staff would be picketing at the airport from this morning, he said.

Mr O'Regan said everything was in place for the airport to run as usual and he did not expect flight disruptions.

Source: Southland Times, The

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