Media Release
25 September 2008

Wellington Bus Dispute Disrupts Commerce and Damages Reputation

The Wellington Regional Chamber of Commerce has urged both parties to come together and resolve the bus dispute as quickly as possible for the good of the city as well as themselves.

“This industrial action has caused considerable disruption to commerce in the city with employees arriving late for work and increased congestion reducing the efficiency of the transport network,” said Chamber CEO Charles Finny.

“The cost of this dispute is being felt more widely than the two parties concerned. The loss of productivity and the damage to Wellington’s reputation as a smoothly running city will impact on us all.

“This dispute has come at a very bad time with the increased visitors in Wellington for the World of Wearable Art Show.

“It is also unfortunate that Nick Kelly and his Tramway’s Workers Union have chosen to launch their industrial action during term time. Disruption would have been minimised had it occurred just a week later in the school holidays. The targeting of school children as they are preparing for their end of year exams is a particularly low blow.

“The dispute will undo a lot of the good work that has been done by a number of parties to improve the provision of public transport in Wellington and to create a partnership betweeen business and the union movement to grow productivity and wages in the economy. It also sends a negative message to those “new commuters” who have recently decided to give public transport a go because of high fuel prices.

“We urge both parties to come together and resolve this dispute for the good of the city as a whole,” Mr Finny concluded.

ENDS

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