Queenstown airport workers expecting long battle

Striking Queenstown Airport workers say they don't expect to be back at work soon.

The 49 ticket collection and baggage handling staff have been on strike since Friday after being unable to reach a pay deal with Mt Cook Airlines and its parent company Air New Zealand.

Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union spokeswoman Libby Carr said that after a day on the picket line in the snow, the workers were taking some time off.

"We have decided to give everyone a day off today, but there will be people coming in in the afternoon, so there will be a short picket line."

Ms Carr said the workers were enthusiastic after Monday's picket in the snow with a barbecue and tents.

"They're all saying, 'Why are we not doing it?' but we're just trying to pace them because we know we're in here for the long haul."

She couldn't say how long it would take to reach a deal.

Ms Carr said the final negotiating position had been that Mt Cook Airlines was going to come back to the union with a new offer. "[But] they rang us ... and said, 'We've got nothing further to offer'."

The staff want a 5 per cent rise but the last offer from the company was for a three-year deal at 3.25 per cent.

The workers did not believe that would even match the rate of inflation and living costs were skyrocketing in Queenstown where property costs have boomed in recent years.

Air NZ spokesman David Jamieson said the airline was still in negotiations with the union.

- NZPA