Workers at Zeal320 - a front for Air New Zealand established for the sole purpose of paying people less - are on strike at the moment in an effort to earn pay parity with their co-workers. Zeal staff work on the same planes as Air New Zealand staff, they wear the same uniform, and perform exactly the same tasks - yet they are paid up to $30,000 a year less for doing so. And that's just not fair. Interestingly, Air New Zealand CEO Rob Fyfe's gratuitous $1.5 million pay rise last year would completely meet the cost of the Zeal workers' pay claim. A clearer example of management greed at the expense of workers would be hard to find.
The Hand Mirror has a report from the Wellington picket-line here. There's also this video of one of the striking workers explaining their cause:
They'll be picketing at Auckland and Christchurch airports for the rest of the weekend. If you'd like to show your support, pop along; if you'd like to donate to help them out, the EPMU will have information here soon.
Remember, Air New Zealand is government-owned and controlled. Shouldn't a government-owned business treat its workers a little better than this?
