More than 1000 Air New Zealand staff petition management to save New Zealand jobs and stop outsourcing

More than 1000 Air NZ staff have petitioned the airline’s management to save New Zealand jobs and stop outsourcing work, including cabin crew roles to Chinese nationals based in Shanghai. But in response to the “Kia Kaha Aotearoa” petition, signed by 1287 staff, Air NZ CE Greg Foran said the airline would continue to outsource work in order to meet financial objectives set out in its new strategy called Kia Mau. “I have empathy for your sentiment around outsourcing – that everything should be based in New Zealand, but unfortunately that is not always the best or most feasible business outcome,” Foran said Thursday. The call from staff comes following confirmation last week that about 385 international cabin crew would be made redundant, as well as 550 furloughed international cabin crew, who have not worked since July. More than 4000 staff, about a third of the airline’s workforce, have lost their jobs since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. A petition from an Ellie Leonard has also appeared on the New Zealand Parliament website requesting that the House of Representatives urge the Government as majority shareholder (52%) to hold Air NZ accountable for job losses. It has 1452 signatures and closes on November 30. It is not clear if it’s the same petition as the one Foran responded to. “Air New Zealand received a $900m Government loan. Why isn't it retaining employees in NZ and closing its Chinese base?” it said. The airline should be saving New Zealand jobs instead of outsourcing the work, it said. “Air NZ is using Covid as an excuse to clean house and weaken employment agreements.” In Foran’s memo he said the company would continue to utilise a range of business partners to provide specific services. Some to deliver specialised work, others in larger, more involved partnerships, some of which were in New Zealand, some overseas, he said. “We do not though make such partnership decisions lightly.”<br/>