Auckland bus drivers not ruling out future action after NZ Bus talks fail

Thursday, 9 January 2020

NZ Bus driver Jae-Chul Son is a member of the First Union and is hoping the company and the unions can come to an agreement in the latest round of negotiations.

A union representing NZ Bus drivers in Auckland isn't ruling out future industrial action after negotiations with the company on Thursday came to nothing.

Tramways Union president Gary Froggatt said the discussions 'got nowhere'.

'There was no further offer made, so we are going to go back to our members to discuss where we go from here.'

He said the union would hold a series of meetings late next week with its members and it had invited NZ Bus to attend.

* Auckland bus strike: NZ Bus services to resume on Friday

* Auckland bus drivers vote to continue industrial action, go without pay**

NZ Bus drivers took to the streets in December to protest the company's suspension amid strike action over working hours and pay.

The drivers, who are also represented by First Union, have been battling the company over their pay and conditions.

Late last year, the company offered the drivers a pay rise of 43 cents an hour which would take their hourly rate to $22.50.

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

However, the 14-hour shifts the drivers worked were too long and they weren't getting enough rest,' he said.

'They are away from home for 15 and 16 hours at a time.

'It causes fatigue and the drivers are falling asleep out on the road.'

He said drivers often had up to four hours of unpaid downtime between shifts and the contracting model used by Auckland Transport meant the companies were often unwilling to cover pay rises for the drivers.

Before the meeting on Thursday, NZ Bus chief operating officer Jay Zmijewski would not be drawn on the next round of bargaining.

'The negotiations are ongoing and that's all I'm willing to say at this stage,' he said.

NZ Bus announced on December 6 that its services on some of Auckland's busiest routes would be cancelled from December 7 as a result of the ongoing strike action.

Many of the company's drivers had been refusing to collect fares. The company said drivers who continued to participate in the strike would be suspended.

The unions called off the industrial action on December 12 after Auckland Council asked Auckland Transport to help resolve the dispute.