EMA stays quiet after Air NZ pulls out

The Employers and Manufacturers Association is remaining tightlipped this evening after Air New Zealand announced it had withdrawn its membership in the wake of the Alasdair Thompson controversy.

EMA chief executive Thompson has been heavily criticised for saying women take more sick leave because of what he termed their “monthly problems” in a radio interview last week.

ONE News revealed earlier today that Air New Zealand had terminated its EMA membership.

In the latest Air New Zealand newsletter, obtained by TVNZ, CEO Rob Fyfe said: “I have received a number of questions asking whether Air New Zealand is a member of the EMA following outrage at the CEO’s public comments suggesting women are less productive and take more sick level because of their monthly periods.

“Air New Zealand was a member of the EMA, we terminated our membership this week.”

The EMA was not commenting tonight until it has been notified of Air New Zealand’s decision officially.

ONE News has canvassed several other big employers, but none are so far planning to withdraw from the EMA.

The employers have said the organisation is not just Alasdair Thompson and they appreciate the services the association offers.

Membership ended

In a statement Air New Zealand said its membership of the EMA came as part of being a corporate member of Business New Zealand’s ‘Major Companies Group’, and this membership was up for renewal today.

“Air New Zealand had been reviewing the costs and benefits of that membership and, combined with events of the past week involving the EMA, decided to cancel that membership,” the statement said.

Thompson is on sick leave from the organisation as the board considers his future.

A decision was thought to have been made this week but the process is being held up by “unforeseen circumstances” beyond the board’s control, the Otago Daily Times reported today.

Meanwhile, protests against Thompson’s comments have been held in Auckland today.

Campaigners for equal pay gathered outside an EMA meeting in Henderson this morning and later moved to the EMA headquarters in downtown Auckland.

Protesters carried placards saying “Pay Equity: It’s about justice” and “Pay Equity: It’s about fairness”.

Jill Ovens from the Service and Food Workers Union Nga Ringa Tota said women are being taken for granted.

“We’re here to help EMA to understand what pay equity is all about,” she said.

“For our members it’s about women-dominated occupations such as caregiving and cleaning where the pay is rock bottom simply because the work is overwhelmingly carried out by women.”

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