Air New Zealand Accepts Mediation with FARSA

Air New Zealand has accepted the offer by the Department of Labour to mediate between the airline and FARSA (Flight Attendants and Related Services Association). The parties will meet next Tuesday afternoon - 28th January.

Air New Zealand Vice President Customer Services, Brendan Fitzgerald said the company was pleased to accept the offer of mediation put forward by the Department of Labour as it sought to avert industrial action by FARSA members.

Air New Zealand is also pursuing legal action against FARSA to gain an interim injunction to prevent the strikes going ahead. The airline will file papers with the Employment Court today.

During the last few months Air New Zealand has met with FARSA on a number of occasions and during this time the company has put forward several proposals. In spite of negotiations and mediation, FARSA continued to reject the airline's offers and Air New Zealand concluded bargaining on 16 January.

FARSA served notice of industrial action on 21 January which involves a 24 hour strike on Wednesday 5th February followed by 48 hour strikes on the following days in February: Friday 7th & Saturday 8th, Monday 10th & Tuesday 11th and Thursday 13th & Friday 14th.

Members of FARSA employed by Air New Zealand undertook industrial action on two separate occasions last year involving two 14 hour strikes on 27 and 29 November.

The strike action affected Air New Zealand services to Australia, the Pacific Islands and Asia which resulted in the cancellation of some services and delays in the departure of some flights.