New Zealand: Airport strikes to cause 'significant disruption'

The government could intervene to help reduce major disruption at airports as strikes loom. One option is to use staff from other agencies such as Customs, he said. PM John Key said the strikes would cause "significant disruption" during school holidays. Cabinet had been briefed on contingency options yesterday, but Key declined to reveal what was being considered. "There are options available to the Government," Key said this morning. "Everything is going to be done to minimise the disruption to tourists and New Zealanders. "One of the three unions has settled, so there is a core of specialist staff there." Asked if temporary workers could be brought in from police and Customs to cover aviation security, Mr Key said, "potentially, yes". The strikes would not shut any airport, but would cause considerable delays unless other measures were taken, the Prime Minister said. Transport Minister Simon Bridges said since the collective agreement ended about a year ago. "There have been strong offers by the Civil Aviation Authority. If you compare it across the public sector they can be seen at the upper end of the kind of offers we see in this area. What you are seeing here is a strike notice that is designed to cause maximum disruption. Our hope is still that we can mediate this and have an amicable solution so it doesn't get to the position of strike."<br/>