Air Pacific and the Transport Workers Union have reached an agreement to remove the compulsory retirement age for workers set at 45 years for the cabin crew and 57 years for all other staff.

While making submissions during the Fiji Court of Appeal hearing in the case the Transport Workers Union has filed against Air Pacific, representing the Union Hamendra Nagin told the court that the issue of the retirement age is no longer a matter of contention as the Union and Air Pacific have settled the matter and the compulsory retirement age for staff at all levels will be removed from the collective agreements.

However, Nagin has submitted today that they want the Appeals Court to look into matters of climitization, working hours for Air Pacific staff, Crew compliment and the issue of overweight and blemishes as stated in the collective agreements. The Union said that these conditions under the Collective Agreement are unconstitutional as workers are suspended for being overweight or if cabin crew has blemishes.

The lawyer also called on the court to look at the powers of the Permanent Arbitrator to amend and make collective agreements, while stressing that these collective agreements are at his own judgment and is something that the High Court cannot review unless he makes an error in law or if his decision is unconstitutional. Lawyer representing Air Pacific will make his submission when the case continues on November 20th.