A long-running contract dispute between Air New Zealand and its pilots continued in New Zealand's highest court yesterday.
The dispute began in the Employment Court and an aspect of it involving reimbursement for working on public holidays has continued through to the Supreme Court.
The pilots have a
roster system that requires work on some public holidays. The nature of the industry means they get as little as 10 days' warning of whether they will need to work.
The contract gives pilots a future day off for working the public holidays and 11 extra annual leave days to compensate, but the pilots' union argues they should also get time-and-a-half for working on the public holidays.
It argues the pilots' current agreement doesn't comply with aspects of the 2003 Holidays Act.
Air New Zealand says a clause in the pilots' contract about working on public holidays does not require the airline to pay extra.
Rodney Harrison, QC, for the pilots' union, and Kit Toogood, QC, for Air New Zealand, argued in detail about the contract in Wellington yesterday.
The details at times proved difficult to spell out and there was plenty of clarification seeking between lawyers and the five justices.
"I'm afraid this is getting all too subtle for me Mr Toogood, you'll have to help," said Justice Andrew Tipping.
The hearing is expected to end today.
- NZPA
