Labour Candidate for Wellington Central
Media Release
25 September 2008
Bus Lockout Needs To End: Parties Should Return To The Table
The Labour Candidate for Wellington Central, Grant Robertson, today called for the end of the lockout of Wellington bus
drivers, and for a return to the negotiating table.
“While the peak hour strike action might have been an inconvenience for Wellingtonians, the total loss of services
created by the lockout is a cause for considerable concern. More and more people are reliant on bus services, including
school children and the elderly. The city cannot afford this dispute to carry on,” Grant said.
“The drivers need to know that Wellingtonians truly appreciate the job they do for us every day of the week. Driving a
bus in Wellington is a skilled job, and there is also an expectation of high customer service performance. $12.72 per
hour (the current rate) is an unacceptable level of pay for this kind of job. A significant pay increase is totally
justified,“ Grant said.
“As a first step I would like to see Go Wellington end the lockout, and the parties re-start talks towards an agreement
on improved pay and conditions,” Grant said.
ENDS