Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Air Tahiti Nui unions threaten strike over drugs probes

Posted at 04:06 on 09 July, 2007 UTC

The two unions representing Air Tahiti Nui staff have threatened to go on strike after about 20 percent of the airline employees were suspended amid a police probe over drug offences.

The unions say the airline management has used an abusive procedure against the more than 30 employees who are at the centre of a police investigation into the import and use of drugs, such as cocaine and ecstasy

The banned substances are believed to have been brought in from the United States.

About 100 employees had been questioned as part of the investigation and 33 of them are due to appear in the criminal court in Papeete in September.

The airline says it has put in place disciplinary measures which airline staff fear will result in sackings.

The unions say the airline has acted in haste and illegally as the suspects are to be presumed innocent.

They also say while they deplore the use of drugs on board the aircraft, young men and women are being thrown out as fodder for public opinion.