Bus drivers seek law change as dispute continues over proposed terms and conditions

Wednesday, 16 May 2018

Bus drivers want to be considered 'vulnerable workers' under law so their wages and conditions are preserved during contract negotiations. (File photo)

The union representing bus drivers has asked the Government to include them as 'vulnerable workers' to prevent their wages and conditions being compromised should their employers change.

The plea comes as negotiations continue to stall between the Tramways Union and incoming bus operator Tranzit, with union members refusing to accept their proposed new contracts.

Tranzit managing director Paul Snelgrove says the union's predictions of lower pay are 'totally rubbish'. (File photo)

The union says its 700 Wellington drivers would get an average of $200 less per week under Tranzit, which will take over the majority of the region's commuter bus contracts from July.

But Tranzit managing director Paul Snelgrove said those calculations were 'totally rubbish', and reiterated his claim that drivers would be paid more under the new contracts.

Wellington Mayor Justin Lester came out in support of Wellington bus drivers during their contract dispute last year.

* Wellington bus services will stop

* Bus drivers' union threatens 'industrial action'

* Ratepayer dollars spent to cut bus drivers' pay**

The dispute is largely over the proposed removal of workers' penal rates, which include double-time on Sundays and time-and-a-half on Saturdays.

The union raised the issue at an education and workforce select committee meeting at Parliament on Wednesday, during submissions on the proposed Employment Relations Amendment Bill.

The Bill is designed to restore employees' 'minimum standards' and promote union rights in the workplace.

Bus driver Wendy Parsons told the committee she used to enjoy driving buses on Wellington's challenging streets, but she now contended with stress and anxiety because of the uncertainty over her future.

'I couldn't sleep, I was getting headaches, felt depressed, I lost my positivity,' the 51-year-old said.

'I've had to stop driving in the middle of my trips because I've been crying.'

Parsons had been a 'good, loyal worker' who cared about her passengers' safety but now felt under-valued and angry that drivers had been 'thrown out like trash'.

Fellow driver Ivana Sheck said drivers were struggling with the uncertainty of not knowing how they were going to make mortgage payments should their wages or hours be cut.

'Try telling a landlord or the bank manager, 'Hey, my hours have been reduced, can you stall the payment a little bit?'.

'What do you think he's going to say?

'It might be too late for us today, but we can at least give someone in the future the chance of protecting their work and their rights.'

Union secretary Kevin O'Sullivan said bus drivers should not have to pay the price of competitive tendering.

'This legislation might not change fast enough to help our members, but it needs to happen. The industry needs to stop competing by lowering Kiwis' incomes.'

But Snelgrove accused the union of scare-mongering and said its claims, which also included talk of zero-hour contracts, were 'totally incorrect'.

Even with the loss of penal rates, all drivers would still be better off under the higher hourly rates, and an independent analysis commissioned by Greater Wellington Regional would prove that, he said.

'I feel sorry for the drivers, who have had fear put into them and been told they're not going to get paid or they're not going to have jobs.

'It's frustrating the amount of rubbish that's been instigated.'

Tranzit had discussed the changes with the Tramways Union and other unions, he said.

While the union claims Tranzit will not have enough drivers when its contracts come into effect in July, Snelgrove said the company had already recruited more than 200 of the 260 drivers it needed.