KEY POINTS:
TVNZ has recalled its cameraman covering the All Blacks tour of France after he took part in industrial action against the state broadcaster.
Vaughan Scott was editing footage of the All Blacks to send to New Zealand in time for the 6pm news when the union sent notice to members of a lightning work stoppage about 2.15pm on Sunday in New Zealand.
After Scott stopped work, a reporter and cameraman from another network took his equipment to a local television station and transmitted all the footage to TVNZ to edit in New Zealand.
The stoppage was part of ongoing industrial action by staff members of the Public Service Association and the Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union, which has included lightning strikes and rolling stoppages. The most recent was the 24-hour stoppage from 5pm this Monday.
The unions are asking for a 5 per cent wage increase and one extra week's leave for staff who had been with the company for at least six years.
Scott - who has worked at TVNZ on and off since 1969 - said he had warned TVNZ he was in the union and intended joining any action while on the month-long trip to France. "I didn't go and surprise them. I was sent with the knowledge that I would take industrial action so I gave them every opportunity to send someone else."
TVNZ spokeswoman Megan Richards said the broadcaster's priority was keeping on air.
"We are taking the decisions necessary to reduce any risk to the business and protect our programming. It is not personal or punitive, it's just what must be done to keep our schedule on air as much as possible."
A TVNZ cameraman from England was sent to replace Scott for the remainder of the tour.
