Authority asked to help resolve bus dispute

Company to seek assistance of Authority to resolve difficulties with Union Negotiations in an effort to avert customer disruptions

Today NZ Bus advised it will be seeking the assistance of the Employment Relations Authority to resolve the difficulties in concluding the collective bargaining with the Auckland Combined Unions and will be filing an application to the Authority for facilitation over the next few days. The Auckland Combined Unions represent bus drivers and cleaners who work for Metrolink, North Star, Go West, Waka Pacific, LINK and City Circuit bus services.

“We have taken time to consider the Unions formal position,” says Zane Fulljames General Manager Operations, NZ Bus. “The Unions claims are increasing, and after four months of negotiation the gap is widening.”

“Our customers are dealing with this ongoing uncertainty. We have a responsibility to provide them with clarity, “says Fulljames. “ After consideration, we will be seeking facilitation to assist the two parties to reach an agreement.”

“We ask that the Unions support this approach in the interest of avoiding industrial action which would impact on Auckland’s commuters,” Fulljames continues.

On Monday NZ Bus asked the Auckland Combined Unions to clarify their position post their stop work meeting and articulate their formal position in terms of claims. The Unions requested more time to construct their position and mediation was adjourned until 10 am Tuesday 15th September.

The Auckland Combined Unions tabled their amended position at mediation on Tuesday 15 September. “Their previous claim of 70 cents an hour articulated in the media last week, has increased to a $1 an hour this week.”

“We apologize sincerely to our customers for this ongoing uncertainty and can confirm that we are taking every responsible step to keep our buses operating as normal” Fulljames concludes.

Additional information

Background

NZ Bus has been negotiating with the Auckland Combined Unions for four months. The Auckland Combined Unions represent the bus drivers and cleaners who work for Metrolink, North Star, Go West, Waka Pacific, Link and City Circuit buses

NZ Bus employs approximately 900 drivers and cleaners in Auckland
The annual pay roll sits in excess of $41.5 million per annum

The Negotiation Process

Over the last four months of negotiations, in an effort to reach an agreement and secure a deal that meets the need of our people and the business. Despite the difficult economic conditions, NZ Bus has put a series of improved offers on the table.
The company’s initial offer of 9.5% later moved to 9.9%
At mediation on Tuesday September 8th, in an effort to avert industrial action that would disrupt Auckland commuters, NZ Bus put an improved offer of 10.4% on the table
The company offer of 10.4% over three years is a substantial one and is highly competitive in today’s economic environment when you compare it to other settlements ranging between 0 and 3%.
It represents an additional 4.75 million dollars to Auckland employees over the period.

Friday 4th September

The Unions issued a notice of strike action to commence September 9th. In response NZ Bus issued a notice of lockout to commence from September 9th.

Tuesday 8th September

NZ Bus and the Auckland Combined Unions attended mediation. In an effort to avert industrial action NZ Bus tabled an improved the offer of 10.4% over three years.

The notice of strike action was lifted by the Unions, and in response the Notice of lockout was lifted by NZ Bus.

The Unions agreed to take this to a stop work meeting on Friday 11 September.

Friday 11th September

The Auckland Combined Unions held their stop work meeting and voted against the offer. NZ Bus scheduled mediation to occur on Monday 14th at 3 pm. The Unions undertook to meet on Sunday evening to discuss their next course of action.

Sunday 13th September

The Auckland Combined Unions met to consider their next course of action. Post that meeting they said to media they would see what offer NZ Bus was prepared to put on the table at mediation on Monday 14th.

Monday 14thSeptember

NZ Bus met with the Auckland Combined Unions at mediation. The Unions were asked to provide feedback around the stop work meeting.

They advised they had an amended position to present to the company and were asked to articulate their formal position in terms of claims.

The Unions requested more time to construct their position and mediation was adjourned until 10 am Tuesday 15th September

Tuesday 15thSeptember

The Unions articulated an amended position and claims, which was an increase on their previous articulated position of Tuesday September 8.

Wednesday 16thSeptember

NZ Bus advised that an application would be filed with the Employment Relations Authority for facilitation assistance, in resolving the difficulties in concluding the collective bargaining.
NZ Bus formally seeks the Auckland Combined Unions support for this application.

Thursday 17thSeptember

Mediation scheduled for 1pm

ENDS

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