Neha Jain: http://newzealandaviationnews.blogspot.com/22

1. New Zealand Embassy opens office in Mumba

A new office has been opened in the Bandra Kurla Complex, Mumbai, by the New Zealand Immigration Minister Jonathan Coleman.

A new consular office has been opened in Mumbai to help increase ties between New Zealand and India.

The New Zealand Embassy office will be a key part of strengthening trade and cultural ties between the two countries. New Zealand is looking to partner with India in key industries such as agricultural technology and the food supply chain, IT innovation, aviation, wood and green technologies.

The office will provide consular, trade, investment, tourism and New Zealand Visa services and offer an enhanced service to facilitate the development of business and wider relationship between India and New Zealand.

At opening of the office, Dr Coleman said, “The opening of the Consulate General symbolises the commitment of New Zealand government to our relationship with India. It also demonstrates New Zealand’s commitment to increased synergy for travel between India and New Zealand and business and investment opportunities.”

India is New Zealand’s eighth largest export market, up from 24th place three years ago, and it a market that is valued at over NZ$1.2 billion.

2. Qantas faces strikes over union job guarantee push
THOUSANDS of airline refuellers, baggage and transport staff have joined pilots and engineers in threatening strike action against Qantas to support controversial "job security" clauses aimed at limiting the use of outside labour.

The influential Transport Workers Union revealed last night that industrial action by its 9000 members at Qantas would be considered unless the airline agreed to clauses designed to curtail the use of cheaper contract workers.

The union, whose members include refuellers, baggage handlers, ramp, fleet and catering staff, signalled it would seek annual 4 per cent pay rises and extra employer superannuation contributions from Qantas.

"Over the past few years, Qantas has made it clear to the workforce that the undermining of wages and conditions and job security is part of its business model," the union's federal secretary, Tony Sheldon, told The Australian. "Job security will, without a doubt, be part of these negotiations with our workplace committee, and if a settlement is not reached, industrial action is definitely on the table and will be put to the members." The confrontation with unions comes as Qantas is under pressure over soaring oil prices, underperforming international operations and the impact of natural disasters in Japan, New Zealand and Australia. The company, which recently increased fuel surcharges, yesterday reiterated its opposition to the job security clauses, which are also being pursued by airline engineers and long-haul pilots.

Related Coverage
EWIN HANNAN: Work law puts airline on the rack
Qantas strike threat over job security Courier Mail, 2 hours ago
Work law puts airline on the rack The Australian, 1 day ago
Way clear for Qantas strike vote The Australian, 5 days ago
Qantas faces threat of strikes The Australian, 10 Mar 2011
Qantas pilots back union on job security The Australian, 11 Feb 2011

"The unions are threatening industrial action while the company deals with rapidly increasing fuel prices, an underperforming international business and the operational impact of natural disasters in New Zealand, Japan and in Australia," a Qantas spokesman said yesterday.

"These so-called job security claims are actually about removing any flexibility that the company has to respond to changing operating conditions, and we have seen in the past six months just how volatile the aviation industry can be."

In a welcome development for the airline, Qantas has struck an in-principle agreement with the Australian Services Union, which represents 1000 check-in and administrative staff. It is understood the deal delivers annual pay rises of about 3 per cent.

The Australian Licensed Aircraft Engineers Association yesterday promised not take any industrial action over the busy Easter period, or during any other peak period for the airline.

The association's federal secretary, Steve Purvinas, said any action would be "after Easter" because the union did not want to disrupt travellers and was committed to giving the negotiations sufficient time to reach a settlement. He said the association was committed to pursuing job security clauses. It had applied for a secret ballot to approve legally protected industrial action, including the option of strikes of up to two days. However, if action were approved, it was likely to be limited to short stoppages.

The Qantas spokesman said the company was extremely disappointed that the unions were putting "their unrealistic demands ahead of the interests of the travelling public".

"Qantas will do everything it can to minimise any impact on passengers should the unions proceed with this unnecessary industrial action," he said.

Australian and International Pilots Association president Barry Jackson said he was "stunned by the outburst from Qantas management".

"If there is a party here putting its own interests ahead of the travelling public, it's certainly not Qantas pilots - it's Qantas management," he said.

"This will come as no surprise to Australian passengers as management has an unfortunately poor recent record in this regard.

"The job security claims being made by pilots will have precisely zero negative effect on the company's ability to deal with fuel prices or natural disasters.

"On the contrary, securing the employment of world-class Australian pilots can only bolster the company's position.

"Both pilots and the travelling public are in agreement that if you buy a Qantas ticket on a Qantas plane, you are entitled to a Qantas pilot. Our job security claims are all about safeguarding this in the face of a short-sighted outsourcing and offshoring agenda.

"Despite the unfortunate recent rhetoric from management, we remain optimistic that they will soon see the soundness of their pilots' position and common ground can be found."

3. Qantas reaches settlement with NZ Commerce Commission on freight cartel
Qantas has announced a settlement with the New Zealand Commerce Commission (NZCC) in relation to price fixing activities within its freight division between 2000 and 2006.
While Qantas hasn’t specified the exact terms of the settlement, both parties agreed to recommend to the New Zealand High Court that the airline pays a fine of NZ$6.5 million, representing a 50 per cent discount for Qantas’s cooperation with the NZCC in its investigation of the cartel.
“Qantas has previously resolved its liability to regulators in the US, Australia, Canada, Korea and Europe for its freight division’s conduct. In each case the fine imposed on Qantas reflected a considerable cooperation discount,” the airline said in a statement.
The High Court penalty hearing is set for April 11, at which time the airline will plead guilty to participating in the cartel with other international airlines, including Air New Zealand. Qantas has maintained that it will “continue to cooperate fully with the Commission in its prosecution of other airlines”.

4. Qantas settles New Zealand price-fixing case
QANTAS is expected to pay a $NZ6.5 million fine to settle a New Zealand action it was part of freight price-fixing cartel between 2000 and 2006.

The airline announced today it had reached a settlement with the New Zealand Commerce Commission that would see the regulator recommend a 50 per cent discount for the Australian carrier’s co-operation.

As part of the settlement, Qantas will plead guilty to participating in the cartel in a New Zealand High Court penalty hearing on April 11 in the New Zealand High Court.

"Qantas will continue to co-operate fully with the Commission in its prosecution of other airlines," the airline said.

The New Zealand fine is the latest in a string of penalties that have resolved the flying kangaroo’s liability in the US, Australia, Canada, Korea and Europe.

Separately, Qantas and Jetstar are also the first major airlines to achieve carbon neutral certification for their carbon offset programs under the Australian government's new National Carbon Offset Standard (NCOS).

By
Neha Jain

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