Tauranga Bus Drivers Seek Mediated Settlement

Tauranga Bus Drivers Seek Mediated Settlement

Tauranga bus drivers will enter into mediated talks with Go Bus in an attempt to reach an agreement on pay and conditions next Tuesday, April 27.

National Distribution Union organiser Phil Graham says the drivers have rejected previous company offers because they have not taken into consideration the pay cuts a number of the drivers had to take when they were employed by the company.

“A lot of these drivers were previously employed by Bay Lines. When Go Bus took over from Bay Lines they had to apply for their jobs again. The company gave them a take it or leave it ultimatum which meant taking a pay cut or being without a job” he says.

“These drivers feel they are going backwards. The pay claim they have put in is very modest and would still only bring many of them to $16 an hour.”

Mr Graham says the union is also disappointed that the company has withdrawn all previous offers to union members but was paying increases to non union workers in what appeared to be an attempt to undermine the union workers position.

ENDS

© Scoop Media