Air New Zealand pulls out of EMA, citing Alasdair Thompson
EMA crisis claims first corporate casualty.
Air New Zealand has cut ties with the Employers and Manufacturers Association (Northern) – the first corporate casualty of EMA chief Alasdair Thompson’s comments on gender pay equity.
The airline said Mr Thompson’s comments were part of the reason for its withdrawal from the country’s largest employers association.
However, the airline remained a corporate member of the Business NZ ‘Major Companies Group’, of which the EMA is a member.
Today, Air New Zealand chief executive Rob Fyfe told staff he had received numerous questions about the airline’s membership of the EMA after Mr Thompson’s controversial comments.
He confirmed the airline had terminated its membership this week.
Ironically, the airline has developed a reputation for poltically incorrect statements itself by dint of featuring controversial broadcaster Paul Henry in its inflight videos, and the serially-incorrect "Rico" in its ads.
Air New Zealand said corporate membership of Business New Zealand’s ‘Major Companies Group’ was packaged with membership of the Employers and Manufacturers Association (EMA).
That additional membership was under review ahead of the Business New Zealand membership renewal today, said Mr Fyfe.
The EMA has yet to make a decision on Mr Thompson’s future after the comment -- that the gender wage gap was due to women taking more sick leave than men, citing one reason as their "monthly sick problem" -- sparked public outcry and calls for his resignation.
Mr Thompson is on sick leave and the board’s concern for his health has stalled its decision on whether he will continue to lead the association.
Georgina Bond
Fri, 01 Jul 2011
Fri, 01 Jul 2011
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Air New Zealand pulls out of EMA, citing Alasdair Thompson
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