A responsible way to reach an agreement exists as NZ Bus encourages customers to seek alternative ways to get to work tomorrow
October 7, 2009
Bus services provided by Metrolink, North Star, Go West, Waka Pacific, LINK and City Circuit will be suspended from 4am tomorrow Thursday October 8th in response to the notice of strike action provided by the Auckland Combined Unions on Sunday evening October 4th.
“We apologise sincerely to our customers. This is not a course of action we have taken lightly, “says Zane Fulljames, GM Operations. “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.”
“Customer confidence in the services we provide is impacted. Confidence and reliability are critical factors in winning people over to public transport and retaining them as customers,” he continues.
All bus services are suspended from 4am Thursday October 8.
“We encourage our customers to investigate alternative ways of getting to work” says Fulljames. “Other train, ferry and bus services run by other operators will continue to operate as usual. We also encourage people to think of alternative ways to get to work. We advise customers to allow plenty of time for their journey.”
“The option of resolving the issue responsibly in facilitation exists,” Fulljames continues. “The Unions desire to take the industrial route is hugely disappointing.”
“It is difficult to understand why they do not want to resolve this issue responsibly, both for their members and Auckland commuters.”
Negotiations have been ongoing for five months. In order to avert industrial action NZ Bus filed an application for facilitation with the Employment Relations Authority on Friday 18th September to assist both parties to reach an agreement. On Monday 5 October NZ Bus asked the Authority to hear the case with urgency.
In response to the Unions claims that this was a work to rule, Fulljames said “Let me be quite clear- if this was not meant to be disruptive, the unions wouldn’t have issued a notice of strike action.”
“The work to rule, outlined by the Unions, at first glance appears nothing more than adherence to our policy, procedures and regulations,” says Fulljames.”What I can say however, is that it is wide open to manipulation.”
Other bus companies have recently settled their claims at bargaining for wage increases, at a similar percentage movement to what NZ Bus have offered their people.
The Auckland Combined Unions is made up of four Unions. The Tramways Unions is the largest with 616 members, followed by the Akarana Bus Drivers Association with 228 members, the National Distribution Union has 30 members and EPMU has 1.
“One can only assume that the coalition of the four Unions that make up the combined Unions, are having difficulty in agreeing upon a way to move forward to reach an agreement.”
“A responsible way to reach an agreement exists,” says Fulljames. “We have asked that the unions lift their notice of strike action and join us in seeking the assistance of the Employment Relations Authority in reaching an agreement or accept the offer that is on the table.”
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