Bus Drivers Want Better Deal

Bus Drivers Want Better Deal
Media release from the combined bus unions

November 4, 2009

Auckland bus drivers rejected an offer from Infratil/NZ Bus to settle their combined employment agreement at a stop work meeting today.

Around 700 drivers spent over two hours discussing the offer before voting in a secret ballot to reject it.

Combined bus unions spokesperson Karl Andersen says the union bargaining committee had recommended the deal be accepted on the basis it would go some way towards meeting the driver’s short term pay goals.

“After a full and robust discussion the drivers made a democratic decision that this deal was not going to take them close enough to meeting their longer term aspirations for pay, conditions and job satisfaction as they need to get,” he says.

Mr Andersen says the unions will have to get back into negotiations with the company at some stage but will first spend some time considering the best course to take.

ENDS

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