Union and Air NZ to meet with goal of averting Christmas strike planned for busiest day of the year

Unions will meet with Air NZ Monday to try resolve a pay dispute and avert a strike planned for the busiest day of the year. Air NZ aircraft maintenance engineers, aircraft logistics and related staff have scheduled a strike 4 days out from Christmas – on the airline's busiest travel day of the year. Air NZ said close to 42,000 customers booked to travel domestically and internationally on that date would face potential flight cancellations if it went ahead. The Aviation and Marine Engineers Association and E tū notified the airline Thursday evening of a total strike by almost a thousand unionised employees Dec 21. The unions have also advised to expect further industrial action. The airline said while the group has received pay increases annually for the past 12 years, it has so far rejected recent proposals. <br/>