Airport security staff strike called off

If the rolling strikes by airport security staff had gone ahead it could have impacted on thousands of airline passengers. Photo / Doug Sherring

An airport security workers' strike that unions threatened would cause huge delays at airports has been called off.

The strike was due to take place next week, potentially disrupting thousands of flights and passengers.

However, the Aviation Security Service (Avsec) confirmed this evening that it had reached an agreement with both unions representing workers.

It said urgent top level mediation was held all day in Auckland today with representatives of the Civil Aviation Authority, Avsec and its board working out a "reasonable" deal with Public Service Association and E union officials.

The unions are withdrawing their strike action effective immediately.

Avsec said its management would withdraw its lock-out notice to enable unions to formally ratify the pay offer with their members, which should take four to five weeks.

Civil Aviation director Graeme Harris, who negotiated with the unions alongside Avsec chairman Nigel Gould, said they had made a lot of progress today.

"We are pleased we have been able to find some common ground and hope the offer made today, which will be recommended by unions to their members, will lead to a formal settlement and in time a new collective agreement," he said.

"The travelling public can be assured we all wanted a constructive outcome and neither Avsec nor unions wanted to reach the point where strike action would cause any disruption to travellers during the school holidays."

The PSA said both unions would be recommending the agreement to their members.
The unions would also withdraw injunction proceedings along with their strike notices.