Aviation Security Services has issued a lockout notice to staff who voted to strike later this month after year-long employment talks broke down.
The lockout notice covers the period between 20 July and 27 July, when rolling strikes were due to take place at Wellington and Auckland airports, as well as a ban on overtime at Christchurch airport. These dates cover the last five days of the school holidays.
The strikes were predicted to have a significant impact on screening times and would affect flights being on time, but cancellations were unlikely.
Aviation Security Services staff are responsible for screening passengers and carrying out other surveillance services at airports around the country. It’s estimated that 75% of staff are members of the E tu and Public Service Association unions.
NZ Herald reported on Tuesday that E tu aviation spokesman Kelvin Ellis said the workers didn't want to take the industrial action, the first in 30 years, but felt they had no other option after almost a year of negotiations.
And national secretary for the PSA, Glenn Barclay, said their members were reluctant to carry out the industrial action but felt they had no choice because the latest offer meant some would go three years without a pay rise.
After lockout notices were issued this morning, The PSA issued a statement on behalf of the two unions.
In the statement, Mr Ellis said the lockout step was extraordinary.
"Yesterday the Minister of Transport claimed our mild industrial action was designed to cause disruption - and today his agency is taking an aggressive and illegal move that will cause chaos,” he said.
"The lockout notices cover eight days including the final days of the school holidays, and they also affect Queenstown and Dunedin airports - which are not part of our industrial action."
The Government has indicated that they could call on other agencies like Customs or the Police to cover the striking or locked-out workers. However, the Police Association has indicated it doesn’t want offers involved in the looming strike action.
Last ditch mediation attempts will be held on July 15.
Should these fail, travellers during the lockout period have been advised to check online for up-to-date flight information before heading to the airport, arrive up to an hour early to allow time to get through the queues, ensure their departure documents are completed ahead of time, and their check-in items are prepared for inspection.