387 pilot jobs at risk at Air NZ – pilots’ association

8th April 2020 By Staff Reporter | news@tourismticker.com | @tourismticker

Air New Zealand plans to make 387 pilots redundant, says the Air Line Pilots’ Association (NZALPA).

The proposed reduction is more than a fifth of the carrier’s 1800 pilots.

NZALPA president Captain Andrew Ridling said he had met Air New Zealand’s chief executive Greg Foran and his executive team several times on Tuesday “to continue our discussions on cost-cutting measures relating to the effects on the airline from the Covid-19 pandemic crisis”.

“NZALPA was told by Air New Zealand that they proposed to make 387 pilots redundant as ‘the most economically efficient surplus’ resulting from the proposed Air New Zealand flight schedule,” he said.

“As we have been working closely with the airline over the past three weeks, NZALPA will continue to negotiate on getting this number reduced and finalising the agreement process.

“We have been very clear with chief executive Greg Foran and the Air New Zealand executive team from the beginning of this process: If we cannot save every job, NZALPA would fight to ensure there is a clear and transparent path back to Air New Zealand for all pilots who chose to return.”

Ridling said the 387 would not be the final number of pilot redundancies at the airline.

“Now we continue the robust and thorough consultation process required under the Employment Relations Act and our specific Collective Agreement,” he said.

“Meanwhile, our focus has to be on these negotiations and supporting our colleagues and their families only.”

Air New Zealand yesterday outlined a number of measures it said it had taken to support employees.

The airline said it had deployed its Special Assistance Team, which was made up of several hundred volunteers from throughout the company, to help staff during the Covid-19 outbreak.

It was also said it was helping staff through its Wellbeing Hub, which provided “information on financial support, managing anxiety, tips for self-isolation, working remotely, and protection from COVID-19”.

Staff were also able to access the airline’s employee assistance program, which was “an independent, professional support service that is available to all employees and their immediate family 24/7″.

A digital wellbeing check-in tool had also been developed, which sent notifications to employees, asking about their health and wellbeing and giving them the chance to request a wellbeing check-in from the airline’s wellbeing team or their manager.

“Covid-19 has caused massive social change and sees us in an environment of uncertainty and disrupted daily routines,” said Air New Zealand’s general manager of people safety and aviation medicine, Darren Evans.

“This will naturally have a big impact on our physical and mental health, so we’ve deployed a range of tools for our staff to access to help navigate the unsettling and uncertain times we are facing right now.”

The airline said it was also setting up the Āwhina Trust with the support of its union partners to support employees who were significantly impacted by Covid-19.

The fund included money donated by board members and executives, which would be reallocated as one-off grants of up to $750.