Air New Zealand
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Air New Zealand
Thought you might be interested in this.
Air New Zealand's Shanghai-based flight attendants are paid a quarter the salary of their NZ colleagues - less than the legal minimum wage here.
The Chinese attendants - who work side-by-side with New Zealanders on flights between Auckland and Shanghai - are also paid only a third of the allowances given to their Kiwi counterparts while they are working away from home.
Six Chinese Air NZ flight attendants told the Weekend Herald there had been "growing unhappiness about money issues" among staff.
One described the situation as "staff being disgusted at being treated like monkeys and being paid peanuts".
She and the others, who have all asked not to be named for fear of reprisal, say there is increasing resentment over the pay gap between Chinese staff and their Kiwi counterparts.
A former China-based attendant, Crystal Zeng, said: "I remember feeling the pain when I see the others being able to go out to party, while we don't even have enough money for movies and McDonald's."
Air NZ, which is 76 per cent-owned by the Government, said last night that the Chinese crew were employed by a company in China, and it was unfair to compare the salaries.
NZ flight attendants have a starting base salary of at least $24,000 a year.
A source said crew also got $170 for each day they spent overseas, plus other flight allowances, which could add up to $15,000 a year.
The Chinese have an annual wage starting at $6240 and a daily away allowance of $55.
One Chinese air stewardess said her monthly base salary was $520 and she got an extra $4.30 for every hour of flight time. This totals much less than New Zealand's legal minimum wage of $11.25 an hour.
Air NZ said it did not have to pay the minimum wage because the staff were on secondment from a Chinese company, Fasco.
But each has a New Zealand work permit giving Air NZ as the employer.
"We were led to believe that we will be working for Air NZ, then after we are successful, they drop the bomb telling us we are to sign a contract with a Chinese company and will be employed under Chinese terms," one air stewardess said.
Another, a NZ resident who completed her education here and applied for the position in New Zealand, thought it was just "bad luck" that she had a Chinese passport. She said: "If I were Kiwi, I would have been paid a lot more for the same work I do."
Air NZ's group general manager, Ed Sims, said it was unfair to compare salaries of the Chinese crew with the locals on an hourly-rate basis because the wages were set based on "local market relativity".
"Anyway, we don't set the pay, Fasco does, and our contract is with Fasco and not the individual," he said. "I believe Fasco has set salaries based on the market relativity in China."
The Department of Labour, which oversees immigration, said it was aware that Fasco was the employer of the Chinese staff, but would not say why Air NZ was shown as their employer on the permits.
A department official also refused to comment when asked if this would set a precedent for companies wanting to flout New Zealand employment laws or avoid paying the minimum wage.
Ms Zeng has engaged former immigration minister Tuariki Delamere in a bid to regain the work permit she lost when she left Air NZ.
The airline started hiring Chinese staff when it began flying to Shanghai in November 2006. It is seeking more for its flights to Beijing, which will begin before the Olympics.
Prime Minister Helen Clark last night referred questions to Finance Minister Michael Cullen. He referred the Weekend Herald to State Owned Enterprises Minister Trevor Mallard. His office did not return our calls.
WAGE GAP
China-based flight attendants:
Annual base pay $6240.
Hourly rate (Herald calculation based on 40-hour week): $3.25.
Daily allowance on long-haul flights: $55.
New Zealand-based flight attendants:
Annual base pay $24,000.
Hourly rate (Herald calculation based on 40-hour week): $11.54.
Daily allowance on long-haul flights: $170.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/...0498348&pnum=0
Thanks to Wings over Cambridge
Air New Zealand's Shanghai-based flight attendants are paid a quarter the salary of their NZ colleagues - less than the legal minimum wage here.
The Chinese attendants - who work side-by-side with New Zealanders on flights between Auckland and Shanghai - are also paid only a third of the allowances given to their Kiwi counterparts while they are working away from home.
Six Chinese Air NZ flight attendants told the Weekend Herald there had been "growing unhappiness about money issues" among staff.
One described the situation as "staff being disgusted at being treated like monkeys and being paid peanuts".
She and the others, who have all asked not to be named for fear of reprisal, say there is increasing resentment over the pay gap between Chinese staff and their Kiwi counterparts.
A former China-based attendant, Crystal Zeng, said: "I remember feeling the pain when I see the others being able to go out to party, while we don't even have enough money for movies and McDonald's."
Air NZ, which is 76 per cent-owned by the Government, said last night that the Chinese crew were employed by a company in China, and it was unfair to compare the salaries.
NZ flight attendants have a starting base salary of at least $24,000 a year.
A source said crew also got $170 for each day they spent overseas, plus other flight allowances, which could add up to $15,000 a year.
The Chinese have an annual wage starting at $6240 and a daily away allowance of $55.
One Chinese air stewardess said her monthly base salary was $520 and she got an extra $4.30 for every hour of flight time. This totals much less than New Zealand's legal minimum wage of $11.25 an hour.
Air NZ said it did not have to pay the minimum wage because the staff were on secondment from a Chinese company, Fasco.
But each has a New Zealand work permit giving Air NZ as the employer.
"We were led to believe that we will be working for Air NZ, then after we are successful, they drop the bomb telling us we are to sign a contract with a Chinese company and will be employed under Chinese terms," one air stewardess said.
Another, a NZ resident who completed her education here and applied for the position in New Zealand, thought it was just "bad luck" that she had a Chinese passport. She said: "If I were Kiwi, I would have been paid a lot more for the same work I do."
Air NZ's group general manager, Ed Sims, said it was unfair to compare salaries of the Chinese crew with the locals on an hourly-rate basis because the wages were set based on "local market relativity".
"Anyway, we don't set the pay, Fasco does, and our contract is with Fasco and not the individual," he said. "I believe Fasco has set salaries based on the market relativity in China."
The Department of Labour, which oversees immigration, said it was aware that Fasco was the employer of the Chinese staff, but would not say why Air NZ was shown as their employer on the permits.
A department official also refused to comment when asked if this would set a precedent for companies wanting to flout New Zealand employment laws or avoid paying the minimum wage.
Ms Zeng has engaged former immigration minister Tuariki Delamere in a bid to regain the work permit she lost when she left Air NZ.
The airline started hiring Chinese staff when it began flying to Shanghai in November 2006. It is seeking more for its flights to Beijing, which will begin before the Olympics.
Prime Minister Helen Clark last night referred questions to Finance Minister Michael Cullen. He referred the Weekend Herald to State Owned Enterprises Minister Trevor Mallard. His office did not return our calls.
WAGE GAP
China-based flight attendants:
Annual base pay $6240.
Hourly rate (Herald calculation based on 40-hour week): $3.25.
Daily allowance on long-haul flights: $55.
New Zealand-based flight attendants:
Annual base pay $24,000.
Hourly rate (Herald calculation based on 40-hour week): $11.54.
Daily allowance on long-haul flights: $170.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/...0498348&pnum=0
Thanks to Wings over Cambridge
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Whilst I can see logic behind a slight differences in salary for crew stationed in different parts of the world.. getting paid a quarter of the salary and a quarter of the allowance is hardly fair...
These crew should be getting at least the full daily allowance just like any other crew member gets...
Just makes me want to take an "Amazing Journey" right to the union....
These crew should be getting at least the full daily allowance just like any other crew member gets...
Just makes me want to take an "Amazing Journey" right to the union....
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Although it isnt fair - lets not single Air NZ out here, they arent the first and wont be the last to do this.
I would be also curious as to what other Chinese flight attendants earn working for their local carriers.
I would be also curious as to what other Chinese flight attendants earn working for their local carriers.
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That company published a guide to business ethics for staff:how does the boss of the international airline (if that's what it is called this week) reconcile the chat about treating our people fairly in that pamphlet, and the actuality?
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Poor Pay
To all the ANZ Flight Attendants
Population of India Close enough to 1 Billion. How many speak english?
Population of the Philippines 90 million. How many speak english?
Do the words "Work for food" + a little bit mean anything to you?
Nothing against our Indian and Philippino cousins but, if ANZ is allowed to get away with this, all your jobs are under threat.
P.S My wife is Philippino
Equal pay for equal work!
Population of India Close enough to 1 Billion. How many speak english?
Population of the Philippines 90 million. How many speak english?
Do the words "Work for food" + a little bit mean anything to you?
Nothing against our Indian and Philippino cousins but, if ANZ is allowed to get away with this, all your jobs are under threat.
P.S My wife is Philippino
Equal pay for equal work!
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And they weren't aware ???
And Air NZ management deceiptfully tried to state that they werent aware what they Shanghai staff were being paid. So let me get this straight.
Senior managers of an International Airline establish a base in Shanghai and have no idea what their cost of labout, what they are paying these people is. That sounds believable.
Senior managers of an International Airline establish a base in Shanghai and have no idea what their cost of labout, what they are paying these people is. That sounds believable.
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The management don't seem to value loyal or good staff, they just want whatever or whoever will work for the cheapest. Foreign labour is cheaper so they don' give a rats if there are no kiwis working for Air Nz. They just spin you a yarn about how much they care and how great the staff are. Yeah right. I think you need to have quite low self esteem to put up with the cuture they have going there now.
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Also what is to stop air nz having their main international base at shanghai and employing the majority of the flight attendants for all routes from there. It would make sense as they can pay them peanuts and even if they only last 6 to 9 months in the job, there are millions of other chinese in china whereas there are only 4 million of us to choose from in nz and they can't pay us too low due to the minimum living wage and unions etc. It must be part of the business plan. The only kiwis working for air nz will be the management and the pilots on the big bickies. Scary stuff and I hope the government doesn't let them get away with it.
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Uniformlover.. I think you need to look a little closer at the dynamics of the airline and the purpose of the Crew based in Shangahai. Yes they are being treated unfairly and that needs to change, but they are not employed to replace NZ based Crew. LHR Crew are on a different contract to NZ based Crew but there is no threat of the whole operation being run from there.
I think you need to take your personal gripes out of the equation and post something with facts.
I think you need to take your personal gripes out of the equation and post something with facts.
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Air NZ not alone
Many carriers have overseas bases; and whilst on the surface the airlines pretend it is all for cultural and language purposes...it boils down to cost savings.
BA have bases in NRT,HKG,SIN,BLR,DEL,BOM,MAA,BAH,CAI,MEX,GRU,EZE...
BA have increased the number of "ICC-International Cabin Crew" on India routes...why it saves money. Just as taking an ICC member off NRT-LHR saves money. BA are currently trying to oust HKG based crew in favour of cheaper new hire SIN based crew...
Do you think QF/NZ/UA/JL/NH/CX would have bases in LHR if they weren't producing huge savings?
UA has 2 Foreign National bases in SIN/BKK...these crew work for peanuts compared to AFA represented US/UK/Germany/Japan/HKG based crew.
QF has many many crew employed in NZ under the guise of Jet Connect---is this for language/cultural reasons...NO it because they get more out of NZ crew vs. OZ crew.
Unfortunately folks, this practice is here to stay, and is part of our "global economy"...like it or not. Just all the more reason to join your airline's unon, and have ONE strong union flight for the collective good of the work group!
BA have bases in NRT,HKG,SIN,BLR,DEL,BOM,MAA,BAH,CAI,MEX,GRU,EZE...
BA have increased the number of "ICC-International Cabin Crew" on India routes...why it saves money. Just as taking an ICC member off NRT-LHR saves money. BA are currently trying to oust HKG based crew in favour of cheaper new hire SIN based crew...
Do you think QF/NZ/UA/JL/NH/CX would have bases in LHR if they weren't producing huge savings?
UA has 2 Foreign National bases in SIN/BKK...these crew work for peanuts compared to AFA represented US/UK/Germany/Japan/HKG based crew.
QF has many many crew employed in NZ under the guise of Jet Connect---is this for language/cultural reasons...NO it because they get more out of NZ crew vs. OZ crew.
Unfortunately folks, this practice is here to stay, and is part of our "global economy"...like it or not. Just all the more reason to join your airline's unon, and have ONE strong union flight for the collective good of the work group!
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Hi!
I was wondering if anybody could answer a question relating to this subject,
Is it possible for a Kiwi to work as Cabin Crew in Bangkok for foreign airlines Qantas,etc,if your willing to work for the local pay and also speak Thai?
Cabin Crew is a non-prohibited profession in Thailand.
Thank U very much!
I was wondering if anybody could answer a question relating to this subject,
Is it possible for a Kiwi to work as Cabin Crew in Bangkok for foreign airlines Qantas,etc,if your willing to work for the local pay and also speak Thai?
Cabin Crew is a non-prohibited profession in Thailand.
Thank U very much!
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Effectively, no.
There are millions upon millions of Thais who regard working as crew as a very prestigious job. Every time a Thai airline recruits crew they have literally hundreds of thousands of applications. So there would be absolutely no need or reason for a Thai airline to go to all the trouble of procuring the proper paperwork for a Thai-speaking foreigner to work for them.
Even the non-prohibited jobs are virtually impossible to get for foreigners - that's why most of the no-hopers who go over there for the pretty girls (or boys) end up as English teachers in some dump.
There are millions upon millions of Thais who regard working as crew as a very prestigious job. Every time a Thai airline recruits crew they have literally hundreds of thousands of applications. So there would be absolutely no need or reason for a Thai airline to go to all the trouble of procuring the proper paperwork for a Thai-speaking foreigner to work for them.
Even the non-prohibited jobs are virtually impossible to get for foreigners - that's why most of the no-hopers who go over there for the pretty girls (or boys) end up as English teachers in some dump.
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Actually I dont think they are missing the point
You say that they are not replacing NZ crew. Really ? In actual fact I guess they are. They are taking jobs that would otherwise be filled by NZ crew except for the fact that the management choose to create a 3rd party contract company, to try and distance themselves from the equation, and then set up a Shanghai base with the single and only purpose of reducing their cost of labour.
So how is that not replacing NZ crew.
And it was done with deceipt and they are now facing possible criminal action for breach of Immigration laws. As is possible normal for large corporations they respect and value nothing except $$$ savings and cost minimisation.
So how is that not replacing NZ crew.
And it was done with deceipt and they are now facing possible criminal action for breach of Immigration laws. As is possible normal for large corporations they respect and value nothing except $$$ savings and cost minimisation.
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As far as I am aware NZ have had difficulty recruiting porficient language speakers of late, especially mandarin and cantonese, fluent speakers are a requirement on these routes and now that NZ fly two brand new routes in China I would expect they require Crew with sound cultural and language experience and knowledge.
Once again I stress I dont agree with their contract and the overseas base will create some opportunities for others who are not New Zealanders but there will always be positions out of Auckland for Kiwi's. They merely compliment, not replace.
I note no-one has got uptight about the LHR base that has existed for much longer and will continue to for as long as NZ flies there..
Once again I stress I dont agree with their contract and the overseas base will create some opportunities for others who are not New Zealanders but there will always be positions out of Auckland for Kiwi's. They merely compliment, not replace.
I note no-one has got uptight about the LHR base that has existed for much longer and will continue to for as long as NZ flies there..
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Sebby - your theory is incorrect. The company has just successfully recruited around 60 Japanese and Chinese speakers for the AKL base and had applicants coming out their ears.
I still can't believe that the national flag carrier of New Zealand, which has the government as the major shareholder, has 80% of crew, thinks it's acceptable to set up a foreign base with foreign nationals doing the job a large number of New Zealand residents are capable of doing, all to save a grand total of NZ$140,000 per year.
BTW, We were very uptight about the LHR base when it was first formed, however.. do you really think that we're ecstatic about no longer flying to Europe?! I guess the difference is that we are free to apply to work there when there are vacancies, and the company will even arrange work visa at certain times.
I still can't believe that the national flag carrier of New Zealand, which has the government as the major shareholder, has 80% of crew, thinks it's acceptable to set up a foreign base with foreign nationals doing the job a large number of New Zealand residents are capable of doing, all to save a grand total of NZ$140,000 per year.
BTW, We were very uptight about the LHR base when it was first formed, however.. do you really think that we're ecstatic about no longer flying to Europe?! I guess the difference is that we are free to apply to work there when there are vacancies, and the company will even arrange work visa at certain times.
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Actually you are wrong there Sebby
There was an outcry when they started the London base.
Only problem was no-one was listening. There was the concern that it was taking jobs away from kiwis and that it would also set a bad precedent.
The other trhing that is different with Shanhai is that NZ based crew were invited to apply for secondment to the London base, but this has not happened in Shanghai.
Also from the news in NZ you will see that chinese applicants did apply for CC postions in Auckland but were rejected and advised they could however take up positions in Shanghai. This goes against your argument of having a shortage of language qualified crew in NZ.
Air NZ has historically rostered only one or two CC per flight on language specific flights, so would have sufficient numbers right now to operate these flights with NZ based crew. In addition figures have shown that there are a large proportion of Westerners traveling this route which negates any need for predominantly Chinese crew. That is also highlighted on the Japanese sectors where there are often only a handful of western pax, yet still only one or two Japanese crew.
This can only been seen as an attempt to reduce cost and has absolutely nothing to do with meeting the cultural requirements of the chinese.
Only problem was no-one was listening. There was the concern that it was taking jobs away from kiwis and that it would also set a bad precedent.
The other trhing that is different with Shanhai is that NZ based crew were invited to apply for secondment to the London base, but this has not happened in Shanghai.
Also from the news in NZ you will see that chinese applicants did apply for CC postions in Auckland but were rejected and advised they could however take up positions in Shanghai. This goes against your argument of having a shortage of language qualified crew in NZ.
Air NZ has historically rostered only one or two CC per flight on language specific flights, so would have sufficient numbers right now to operate these flights with NZ based crew. In addition figures have shown that there are a large proportion of Westerners traveling this route which negates any need for predominantly Chinese crew. That is also highlighted on the Japanese sectors where there are often only a handful of western pax, yet still only one or two Japanese crew.
This can only been seen as an attempt to reduce cost and has absolutely nothing to do with meeting the cultural requirements of the chinese.
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OK, I stand corrected. 
My posts are not meant in any way to defend the salary or the contract but I just think NZ is playing a bit of catch up really with offshore bases. Its been done by a lot of companies and I dont think they should be singled out or slammed like they are the first to do it.
It is clearly about to backfire though, as the pay and conditions are pathetic.
Good luck in your protest.
My posts are not meant in any way to defend the salary or the contract but I just think NZ is playing a bit of catch up really with offshore bases. Its been done by a lot of companies and I dont think they should be singled out or slammed like they are the first to do it.
It is clearly about to backfire though, as the pay and conditions are pathetic.
Good luck in your protest.