Nice to see this dispute resolved...
No disruption to regional air services
By MICHAEL FIELD - Stuff.co.nz Last updated 09:57 31/03/2009
A change to rules around meal breaks which threatened regional air services around the country has been resolved at the last minute.
Air New Zealand had threatened to cut 25 flights a week to five regional airports after the Civil Aviation Authority signalled some planes would be banned from airspaces in those areas for two 40-minute periods each day. This would have allowed solo air traffic controllers to take the break.
Airways New Zealand chief executive Ashley Smout told Stuff that the issue had come to a head over the weekend and yesterday they told Air New Zealand of the possibility of shutdowns.
"That was greatly of concern to them and they were going to be more impacted than anybody else," he said.
It was a key factor in getting resolution last night with the air traffic controllers' union, ALPA.
"The union worked pretty hard on the last 48 hours to come up with something," Mr Smout said.
A range of membership views had to be taken into account.
"At the end of the day when it became clear that it was going a major impact, both parties were pretty motivated to avoid it at all cost."
As for the disputed meal breaks, they will "be rostered and organised throughout the day".
Previously Prime Minister John Key said the Government would step in if the two parties could not agree on breaks provisions, which were due to take effect tomorrow.
Air New Zealand warned it would have to cancel 25 flights a week to five regional airports after the Civil Aviation Authority signalled some planes would be banned from airspace in those areas for two 40-minute periods each day because of the proposed control tower closures.
Under the Employment Relations (Breaks and Infant Feeding) Amendment Act, passed in September, workplaces must provide two 10-minute rests and one half-hour meal break during each eight-hour shift. They must also provide time for breast-feeding.
Workers and bosses must agree on times for breaks; if unable to, the breaks must be taken at specific times.
Not sure what the government intervention would have entailed though.
Whole thing seemed a bit odd from the get go really.