Buses cancelled on Auckland's North Shore after drivers' protest

Tuesday, 12 February 2019

A number of bus services on Auckland's North Shore which were disrupted by a drivers' protest are back in operation.

Auckland Transport (AT) said services would return to schedule after the earlier strike without notice on Tuesday morning.

AT said the strike was affecting 15 NZ Bus services, including routes 82, 101, 105, 110, 129, 801, 802, 805, 806, 807, 814, 842, 843, 923 and 924.

School bus services were being covered and Northern Express services were not affected.

Mark Hannan, AT's media relations manager, said some of NZ Bus's drivers at its Glenfield depot were on strike. 

'It wasn't an advised strike. They just walked off the job.'

He understood some services out of the Glenfield depot did not operate early on Tuesday morning but, at 8.45am, believed staff were 'about to go back to work'.

Emir Hodzic, First Union's bus sector coordinator, said the union had not been made aware of the driver-led protest before it happened.

He said the drivers had walked off the job this morning due to 'management issues' not being resolved.

Those included a lack of consultation on rostering and duties changes, along with driver fatigue, Hodzic said.

'They felt they had no choice but to walk out.'

Hodzic said First Union had applied for mediation with NZ Bus.

'This is something we need to resolve quickly and we are trying hard to engage the company.'

Last week, a number of bus services from West Auckland were affected after NZ Bus staff held a protest at its Swanson depot. 

NZ Bus have been approached for comment.