KEY POINTS:
Air Nelson workers will decide on Monday whether to accept a pay offer from their employer or proceed with strike action planned to begin on Thursday.
Mediation between the Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union (EPMU) and Air Nelson broke down today, union officials said.
The company has told the union it will put forward its best offer at the close of business today, and workers will vote on the offer on Monday.
If members vote to reject the offer, industrial action will begin at one minute past midnight on Thursday.
The planned strike action includes rolling stoppages, a food freight handling ban and a blanket overtime ban for all union members, and will be targeting Air Nelson operations between most of New Zealand's provincial cities and main centres.
EPMU served a strike notice on May 9, saying staff were doing more work as the airline got busier, but receiving the same pay.
EPMU organiser Strachan Crang has previously said the union wanted a two-year contract with consecutive pay rises of 5.8 per cent and 4.8 per cent.
In response, Air Nelson had offered staff a three-year deal with a 3.6 per cent pay rise in the first year, 3 per cent in the second and 3.6 per cent in the third.
Air Nelson general manager John Hambleton said he would not comment today.
- NZPA
