Decision to sack flight attendants upheld

The Employment Relations Authority has upheld a decision by Air New Zealand to sack two flight attendants after a drinking episode while on duty.

Ewen Berger, an in-flight service attendant, and Keith Marshall, a flight attendant, were fired after an Air NZ probe that followed allegations that the pair had drunk wine on a flight to Tahiti from Los Angeles, en route to Auckland on April 26, 2003.

The airline has a zero tolerance policy on alcohol for crew on duty and after the inquiry, Berger and Marshall were dismissed on August 11, 2003, despite claiming they had drunk only apple juice.

The flight attendant who made the allegations, Tineke Webley, said Berger and Marshall had poured dessert wine for her and other staff. She had left hers untouched but Berger and another attendant, Nicolette Peev, drank theirs, Ms Webley said.

The authority made no comment on Peev's case as she has a personal grievance case outstanding with Air NZ.

Marshall claimed only Ms Webley's drink was dessert wine as she was new and he had thought it would be useful for her to have knowledge of the wine on offer.

He said all the other crew members were given apple juice. Berger also claimed that a paler drink Ms Webley saw him with later was diluted apple juice.

The authority agreed with Air NZ's decision.

It found it was reasonable for the company to conclude that Mr Marshall served dessert wine to Mr Berger, Ms Peev and Ms Webley, and that Mr Berger drank his.

- NZPA