Air NZ strike threat could disrupt travellers

Two weeks of strike action being threatened by Air New Zealand engineers could severely disrupt travel plans.

Aviation engineer members of the Aviation and Marine Engineers Association (AMEA) and the Engineering Printing and Manufacturing Union (EPMU) are threatening strike action from May 9 over a pay dispute.

The unions represent around 1500 engineers.

EPMU national secretary Andrew Little said the workers were seeking a 5.8 per cent pay rise.

Air New Zealand's proposed pay increase of 3.75 per cent was not enough considering the cost of living, he told The Press.

Mr Little said the two weeks of action had the potential to inconvenience travellers.

In the first week it could include refusal to work overtime and in the second week engineers would not carry out tasks such as checking to make sure planes could fly.

The parties have been negotiating since March and there will be more mediation in the coming fortnight.

An Air New Zealand spokesman said the company would continue to try and resolve the situation.

- NZPA