The Council of Trade Unions has stepped into a row over whether Air New Zealand staff will accept a deal to save their jobs.
The Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union has reached a deal with the airline to save the jobs of up to 1675 check-in staff andbaggage handlers.
About 40 per cent of staff will get a pay rise, 40 per cent a pay cut and the rest will stay on the same wage rate. Those offered a cut will have an automatic right to redundancy.
But the Service and Food Workers Union, which covers about 300 check-in staff, says it is not a party to the deal and it is unlikely its members will agree to it.
CTU president Ross Wilson said the agreement would be put to all affected staff and it would be up to them, not their union, whether to accept it.
"This has been a very difficult process but all union members affected at Air NZ now have full details of the proposal, and will make the decision in accordance with the democratic processes of their unions.
"The CTU will continue to work with both unions to help facilitate a common collective approach."
He would probably speak today to the two union secretaries involved.
Mr Wilson said all affected Air NZ staff would likely vote on the deal within a month.
