KEY POINTS:
Air New Zealand is close to signing a deal with workers belonging to the Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union (EPMU), but it will leave about 300 workers belonging to a second union out in the cold.
About 1700 staff have been locked in negotiations with Air NZ since the airline said it was looking at out-sourcing its passenger and baggage-handling check-in services to Spanish company Swissport, at a loss of around 400 jobs.
The company said outsourcing would save it $100 million over five years.
It said it had been losing key contracts due to lack of competitiveness, and it planned to outsource the work if staff did not agree to labour reforms.
The EPMU said yesterday that it had reached a settlement with Air NZ and would put it to its members this week, with a decision on whether to accept it to be made by Monday.
Under the deal, staff would have to accept pay cuts.
The deal is understood to offer a $1000 lump sum to all employees who accept the settlement; to pay an additional $3000 to those who are eligible for redundancy but choose to stay; and incorporates voluntary redundancy for eligible staff.
The Service and Food Workers Union (SFWU), which represents 300 mainly check-in staff, previously described the offer as a "bribe".
The SFWU members are not eligible for the deal as they pulled out of the negotiation process in December.
Northern regional secretary Jill Ovens said yesterday that many of her union's members were sick of working for Air New Zealand and disappointed to be cut out of any voluntary redundancy offers.
They had understood they would still be considered for voluntary severance.
They had not agreed to the pay cuts, which would average about $7000 a year for her members.
"Our members are looking at the amount of $109 million Air New Zealand recorded in their half-year profit," Ms Ovens said.
"They're at the end of their tether with Air New Zealand."
The proffered $1000 lump sum was effectively payment for a "yes" vote, she said. "We're disillusioned."
SFWU members who stayed on would remain on at their current terms and conditions until May, when the collective agreement was up for negotiation.
- NZPA
