Go Bus Confident of Employing Local Drivers

Media Statement
24 August 2016

Go Bus Confident of Employing Local Drivers to Deliver Superior Service

Go Bus Transport, New Zealand’s largest and most diverse bus operator, says it has been delighted with the applications already received for local bus drivers to work on its South Auckland services that were recently awarded following a tender process.

Go Bus Managing Director Calum Haslop says the Company already has over 70% of the drivers it needs and is currently vetting further applications for the remaining roles.

“We are confident of meeting our target for bus drivers who will establish a high quality bus service for South Auckland starting in October.”

Mr Haslop says recent statements from one union and a political party about the Company seeking labour from the Pacific Islands were big on unsubstantiated allegations and rumours, but devoid of facts.

“If there is a company considering employing 200 drivers from the Pacific (or any number for that matter), it is NOT Go Bus.”

Establishing a superior bus service

On the matter of pay rates, Mr Haslop says in all cases where a contract has been won by Go Bus from an incumbent bus company, Go Bus has offered competitive pay rates and often exceeded the rates offered by the previous operator.

“We have won bus contracts from incumbent companies in many regions around NZ based on quality of our services and our willingness to introduce innovative services for local passengers.

“Go Bus is recognised for bringing a fresh approach to the delivery of urban bus routes for the benefit of passengers. We value the role played by competent drivers who work with the comfort and safety of their passengers in mind.

“In ensuring we have enough suitably qualified people we also work closely with the Ministry of Social Development to train beneficiaries to become bus drivers across the country.”

Go Bus says it has been open about the fact that as a prudent company it had a discussion with Immigration NZ at the outset of its recruitment process in Auckland, but numbers were never discussed. The only offshore recruitment the company has done in the past was for Christchurch during the rebuild when there were acute labour shortages. This was a program with Immigration NZ recruiting drivers from the Philippines, which is no longer running.

“We are now confident there is no shortage in South Auckland, and there has been no follow up discussion with Immigration NZ.”

ENDS

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