WITH an inaugural service to Hong Kong scheduled early next month, Air Pacific has started negotiations on working conditions for staff.
The airline management and employees representatives will enter talks on accommodation issues and a request to extend work rules from a six-day period to seven days.
Transport Workers Union general secretary Kamlesh Kumar said Air Pacific had chosen Novotel Hong Kong as accommodation for staff who would be required to stay overnight during flights to Hong Kong.
However, the union has disagreed with that choice. "The hotel does not meet the requirements of the collective agreement. We discovered this on a hotel inspection tour," said Mr Kumar.
In response to the airline's request that employees work seven straight days instead of the permitted six-day work rule, the union has sought compensation for employees.
"These are the issues laid out before the management. Once the hotel issue is sorted out, then meal and other allowances have to be considered too. As it is, we are waiting for a response from the management," said Mr Kumar.
Air Pacific chief executive officer and managing director John Campbell has not responded as yet to queries sent on the issue. Meanwhile, the dispute lodged by the union regarding redundancy packages paid to former reservations staff has been referred to mediation by the Labour Department.
