Auckland bus strike: 50 NZ Bus services cancelled during morning rush

Saturday, 30 November 2019

Auckland bus drivers were striking over 'management issues' with NZ Bus in February.

Ongoing strike action by Auckland bus drivers starting Monday means thousands of commuters will be affected.

More than 50 bus services operated by NZ Bus will be impacted, and will not run from 4am until 8am on Monday and Tuesday.

Services impacted by the by cancellations include CityLink, InnerLink, OuterLink, TāmakiLink, 14T, 14W, 18, 20, 22A, 22N, 22R, 24B, 24R, 24W, 25B, 25L, 27T, 27W, 27H, 30, 68, 75, 82, 101, 105, 106, 110, 125X, 128, 129, 162, 221X, 223X, 243X, 248X, 252, 253, 295, 321, 650, 670, 751, 755, 762, 781, 801, 806, 807, 814, 843, 871, 923 and 924.

Auckland Transport said services run by other operators and school buses were not affected. Train and ferry services will operate as normal.

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It urged passengers to check its Facebook, Twitter and AT mobile app for updates on the routes affected.

NZ Bus is Auckland's largest bus company and on Thursday its drivers voted to reject the latest offer from the company. First Union and the Tramways Union have since notified NZ Bus, which provides many of the city's bus services, that its members will be taking strike action next week that will affect a number of routes.

First Union secretary for transport, operations and logistics Jared Abbott said the drivers didn't have any other choice.

'There are a number of meetings of drivers happening throughout the week. It's frustrating that it results in cancellations but these are just work related meetings and unfortunately there is simply not the slack in numbers of bus drives to cover for when people need to have these meetings.'

First Union secretary for transport, operations and logistics Jared Abbott said resolving the dispute will require the involvement of Auckland Transport which contracts the two bus companies. The union said there were systemic problems with AT's procurement model for urban bus operators and is central to bus drivers' concerns.

It's members want to increase their hourly pay rates and annual leave entitlements and include meal breaks during their shifts.

NZ Bus chief executive Barry Hinkley said he was disappointed it had come to this.

'We are obviously very disappointed that this action is being taken after two meetings on pay discussions. We were in the process of negotiating when First Union and Tramways gave notice of the strike action.

'Our door remains open for the unions to restart a dialogue to resolve this situation as quickly as possible. We are in communication with Auckland Transport to ensure that passengers understand the situation and we apologise to those affected by disruption,' Hinkley said.

As part of the industrial action over 800 FIRST Union and NZ Tramways Union members who drive buses for NZ Bus will be joining striking Go Bus drivers from Monday next week in not collecting passenger fares. First Union said that means half of all Auckland bus trips will be free.

According to NZ Bus planned non-collection of fares will last from 4am on Monday, December 2 and ending at 4.30am on Saturday, December 7.