Pixie in the Black

[troppo]

oz...there were a few others along similar lines but this was mondays national

hang on a minute...u wanted the strike one...
Air Niugini pilots go on strike

Air Niugini management yet to act on counter proposals

By JULIA DAIA BORE

NATIONAL pilots with Air Niugini have agreed to go on strike if further negotiations with airline management were unsuccessful, according to the president of the national pilots union, Peter Ansphil.
"There is looming strike action," he said, adding that the decision was reached at a meeting last Thursday evening.
It appeared the pilots union may be willing to accept a temporary 10 per cent pay cut if the airline management agreed to have a single salary scheme for local and expatriate technical flight crews.
A spokesman for the airline's management, while not discussing any details, said Air Niugini "would love to come to a compromise".
Mr Ansphil said a letter outlining the union's counter proposal for the solving of the dispute has been sent to the Air Niugini CEO with copies to Labour Department.
It outlined the following counter proposals:

Management and union agree by way of a Memorandum of Agreement to address the dispute in totality, including the issues of single line salary, with a view to signing a new award before February 28, 2004;


Accept management's offer of a 10 percent salary increase effective February 28, 2004 without condition of forgoing CPI adjustments;


Review overtime thresholds and rates by mutual agreement giving due consideration to aircraft fleet types and pilot numbers;


Reinstate concessional travel effective November 1 this year;


Effective on November 1, the National pilots revert back to normal roster work practice, that is working on days off by mutual agreement as per contract clause A/7/3; and


Union to liaise with Labour Department and continue with industrial proceedings.

The Management's proposal to the pilots were to:

Take a 10 percent cut effective from November 1 this year to February 28 next year;


Give a 10 percent increase effective November 1 with no CPI increase for three years;


Retain concessional travel; and


Increase the overtime threshold beginning from November 1.

Pilots at the union meeting last Thursday felt the airline management had not dealt with the issue in its totality or in a professional manner.
The union letter to the Labour Department said: "This union deems this as an insult to intelligence, totally unprofessional and counterproductive to good employer - employee relations.
"This is evidence of the arrogant attitude this union has had to deal with which has led the union to begin industrial proceedings."
It said it was mindful that industrial procedures laid down by the Labour Department had to be followed before any further action was taken by the Union.
The Labour Department, which intervened two and a half weeks ago in the dispute, had instructed Air Niugini management to meet with the union.
This had taken place on October 20 when proposals were tabled for consideration by both parties. No compromise solution was reached and the next step would be the holding of a "compulsory conference