Air NZ strike to go ahead tomorrow

Industrial action by Zeal cabin crew has included dressing up on flights. Photo / Supplied

A strike by Air New Zealand cabin crew is set to go ahead as planned tomorrow, after further talks were ruled out.

It was unlikely the two parties would return to mediation until the strike's end, the union representing cabin crew staff said today.

Two hundred and forty employees of Air NZ subsidiary Zeal are to due walk off the job after two months of negotiations between The Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union (EMPU) and Air NZ failed to resolve a pay dispute.

Union advocate Strachan Crang said no mediation was planned before the strike and EPMU was concentrating on supporting its members during the strike.

"I think that both the parties are resolved to take the industrial action...and we're both looking after the interests of the people we represent," he said.

Zeal staff would be locked out by Air NZ during the four-day strike, while the airline had arranged for management staff to fill in for cabin crew on short-haul trans-Tasman and Pacific flights.

EPMU was seeking substantial pay rises for Zeal staff, who were paid up to $30,000 less a year than staff working directly for the parent company.

An EPMU spokesman yesterday said the union had offered the airline a settlement last Friday, after mediation ended on Thursday without resolution.

He was unable to give details of what it entailed, but said EPMU was trying to meet Air NZ halfway.

Air NZ spokeswoman Haley McCrystal was yesterday unable to comment on EPMU's offer, but said the airline "will continue to work with the EPMU to try and reach a satisfactory settlement".

The company was now focusing on continuing its services during the strike, she said.

- NZPA