Pilots may accept U.S. arbiter

Press, 20 April 1979, Page 3

Pilots may accept U.S. arbiter

PA Auckland A United States Government group known as the Mediation Board is likely to be invited to arbitrate on the long-standing Air New Zealand pilots’ dispute. The board, set up by the United States Labour Department, is considered the only body with the necessary expert knowledge and experience to arbitrate on the New Zealand problem. In the last 35 years it has settled pilot disputes in some 50 mergers by United States airlines. Its decisions have rarely been disputed.

The possibility of bringing in the board was discussed at Wednesday’s meeting between the Flight Crew Officer’s Industrial Tribunal, Air New Zealand, and the two pilot groups, domestic and international. The hearing was called for the parties to make submissions on terms of reference for arbitration in the domestic pilots’ seniority dispute. The tribunal of three members sat for five hours. The chairman (Judge R. D. Jamieson) said that although

the decision was being reserved, it would be treated with urgency. At an earlier hearing in March, the tribunal suggested that an outside body be brought in to arbitrate on the dispute. The airline and the international pilots did not support this idea. It is believed, however, that there has since been a “softening” in their attitude towards the idea.

If the Mediation Board is brought in it will consist of either one person, or a very small group. Its findings will probably not be released until the end of this year.