Pacific Fuel ‘downplaying’ effects of stoppage: union
He said there were no grounds for a strike because the company had already agreed to go to mediation when the union served notice of the proposed stoppage, but he was hopeful it could be averted.
If not, there would be a significant impact on gas supplies as the company delivered to a large number of hospitals. Rockgas was a major customer.
About 40 per cent of Pacific’s workforce were not union members and Pearson said they were putting together a skeleton crew to do some deliveries if the strike went ahead.
‘‘We’re doing our best to to minimise the effect on our customers.’’
Abbott said ‘‘clawback’’ clauses were a major sticking point in negotiations.
‘‘They’re saying: ‘We will give you a pay rise, but we will take all these other things off you.’ ’’
The threatened tanker driver stoppage is due to end the day before Air New Zealand engineers are due to strike for a day, but those looking to rail as an alternative form of transport could be disappointed.
KiwiRail’s general manager of sales, Alan Piper, said it was too early to tell whether the possible airline strike would affect bookings, which were always heavy at this time of year.
‘‘There is limited capacity for extra bookings. The period leading up to Christmas is also a period of strong demand for freight services, and there is also limited capacity to accommodate more freight.’’