City Council welcomes Hamilton buses back onto the city roads as lockouts and pickets end

Hamilton City Council Mayor Andrew King has welcomed the return to the city’s streets of Hamilton’s bus fleet, after the Go Bus company and the First Union reached agreement that ends the lockout of bus drivers, and provides a pathway towards a significant lift in drivers’ wages.

The buses will operate normally from Saturday 24th November, including the important school services starting on Monday 26th.

The decision by Go Bus and First Union was confirmed this evening and follows a series of meetings throughout the day that included the Union and Go Bus, as well as the Waikato Regional Council and the Hamilton City Council.

“Bus drivers have important jobs in our city,” said Mayor Andrew King, “and we think it is vital that they are able to earn a fair income for that work, so we are pleased that there is now an agreement that will move towards that.”

Mayor King said he was pleased that Hamilton City Council had been “able to work closely with the Waikato Regional Council to help promote the resolution to the dispute.”

“We are partners in the provision of quality public transport for Hamilton, and today we were able to show how effective that partnership can be.”

The details of the agreement between the various parties will be reported to the City Council’s Growth and Infrastructure Committee for discussion by Councillors at its meeting on 6th December.

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