Wed, 07 Oct 2009 10:20a.m.
The bus strike will start tomorrow
Auckland bus services will be suspended from tomorrow following a notice of industrial action from drivers, NZ Bus says.
The lockout is expected to disrupt the travel plans of up to 80,000 commuters. On Sunday, the four unions, representing about 1000 drivers, issued a work to rule notice from early on Thursday morning following five months of unsuccessful pay negotiations.
NZ Bus general manager operations Zane Fulljames announced today that all Go West, Waka Pacific, LINK and City Circuit services would be suspended from 4am tomorrow.
"We apologise sincerely to our customers. This is not a course of action we have taken lightly.
"Our customers have had to cope with the threat of ongoing industrial action now for many weeks. It is taking its toll and having an impact on the number of people travelling by bus."
Mr Fulljames said other train, ferry and bus services run by other operators would continue to operate as usual and encouraged people to think of alternative ways to get to work.
He said the unions' decision to take the industrial action was hugely disappointing.
"It is difficult to understand why they do not want to resolve this issue responsibly, both for their members and Auckland commuters."
Combined unions' spokesman Gary Froggatt said the NZ Bus response to the work to rule notice was to be expected.
"The drivers are willing to turn up and drive the buses, but we're not going to speed, not going to break the rules, we're just going to follow the company rules as per laid down," Mr Froggatt said.
"The company is now saying that their rules and regulations are unworkable."
Mr Froggatt said the drivers were not responsible for the inconvenience to commuters.
"The company's locking out the drivers, so therefore they are locking out the passengers. The drivers are not doing that."
Drivers, who earned between $14.05 and $16.75 an hour, have rejected increases of 4.2 percent, 3.0 percent and 3.3 percent over each of the next three years.
NZPA
