Customers stranded while NZ Bus offer sits well above national average at 4.2%, 3.0% and 3.3%
October 8, 2009
Bus services provided by Metrolink, North Star, Go West, Waka Pacific, LINK and City Circuit are today suspended in response to the notice of strike action provided by the Auckland Combined Unions on Sunday evening October 4th.
“What is very evident is that the unions have no interest in resolving this issue responsibly,” says Zane Fulljames, GM Operations. “This can be resolved for Auckland commuters very simply by the Unions lifting their notice of strike action and joining us in seeking support for facilitation or accepting the offer that is on the table.”
The latest national trends for the period July-Sept 09 were released on Friday October 2 indicating companies have settled collectives during this period ranging from 0%-2.5% for the first term. The median percentage wage increase for the first term is 2%.
“We stand by our offer, it is a genuine one that is both competitive and substantial in this economy,” says Zane Fulljames. “Our improved offer sits at 4.2% 3.0% and 3.3%, a total of 10.5% over three years.”
“We do not accept the Unions attempts to diminish the offer.”
The National Distribution Union and two other Auckland 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 a coalition 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 suspect that an agreement has been unable to be reached because we are dealing with four Unions that cannot agree amongst themselves.” says Fulljames. “Our services will be suspended until such time as the notice of industrial action is withdrawn. This is not a decision we take lightly.”
“We apologise sincerely for the impact this is having on our customers and understand the widespread impact this will have on not just commuters but the wider Auckland community.” says Fulljames.
“We will ensure our customers who use weekly or monthly passes will not be financially disadvantaged by the industrial action. We are currently working through the most customer friendly way to reimburse them,” says Fulljames. “We encourage them to go online and register their card on www.gorider.co.nz so we can communicate directly how this will happen over the next few days.”
Additional Information
The offer on the table
In mediation on Monday 28th September we put an improved and reshaped offer on the table.
We wanted to avert industrial action that will impact Auckland commuters.
Our improved offer is 10.5 % over three years.
However the weightings of how that increases will be paid has been changed in order to allow drivers to access the larger increase earlier.
Drivers will receive 4.2% in the first year, 3.0 % in the second year and 3.3 % in the third and final year.
The company offer of 10.5 % means
Trainee driver who is currently earning $14.05 an hour would receive a 10.9 % increase over a three year term
A new driver who is currently earning $15.82 an hour would receive a 10.8 % increase over a three year term
Drivers who have worked over 9 months who are currently earning $16.75 an hour would receive a 10.9 % increase over a three year term
Ninety percent of drivers have worked for the company for longer than 9 months and are paid at the top rate.
The average wage of a driver who has worked for the company for over nine months is approximately $41,634.
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