Air NZ's Australian staff to strike

By MATHEW DEARNALEY

Air New Zealand faces strikes next week by Australian check-in and flight supervisory staff pushing for more pay and job security against the airline's proposed partnership with Qantas.

About 90 members of the Australian Services Union intend holding half-day strikes on Tuesday and Wednesday in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Cairns.

Times vary from airport to airport, with those in Sydney aiming to strike from 1pm on Tuesday and again on Wednesday morning.

Airline spokeswoman Rosie Paul expressed confidence yesterday that alternative staffing arrangements could be made in time to avoid any marked disruption to passengers.

But the assistant New South Wales union secretary, Kristyn Thompson, predicted delays to flights and said a 14-hour, pay-related strike on Tuesday by around 4000 Qantas long-haul flight attendants would add to confusion at Australian airports.