5 July 2016

For immediate release

Wellington bus drivers resolve to strike if bus service quality cut

Wellington’s bus drivers have voted to continue their campaign to protect consumers, and current wages and working conditions, against service changes proposed by Greater Wellington Regional Council.

Around 300 drivers from Wellington City and Hutt Valley gathered to discuss their response to threats to local bus services at a stop work meeting held today during off-peak hours in Kilbirnie.

Bus routes currently operated by NZ Bus are being put out to tender by Greater Wellington Regional Council (GWRC) with documents likely to go to market in early July and take effect in early 2018.

The Tramways Union Wellington branch has been running a campaign representing drivers and consumer interests to correct a raft of changes proposed for Wellington’s bus services. Changes include introducing new routes that will see people having to take two or three buses where they would normally take one, and dirty diesel buses replacing trolley buses. Users travelling in off-peak times and those with disabilities or mobility issues will be among the worst affected.

Tramways Union Secretary Kevin O’Sullivan said, “The Regional Council is making changes that don’t make sense and will cut a safe, accessible service with famously high patronage off at the knees.”

In addition, O’Sullivan said there was real danger of the Regional Council awarding routes to low-wage bidders to cut costs as wages were the biggest cost of operations.

Drivers at the meeting voted unanimously in favour of industrial action if their campaign is not successful in maintaining their current conditions.

“We got an extremely high turn-out of drivers because people are desperately concerned about what changes could mean for them and their families.

“There are providers paying up to $5 less an hour than what drivers are paid by current provider NZ Bus, which would be well below a living wage, and it’s standard to work 10-12 hour shifts and 60 hour, six day weeks” said O’Sullivan.

“Longer shifts for lower pay will be bad for drivers and users. If GWRC bases tenders on lowest cost only, Wellington will get lower quality service.

“Bus drivers shoulder a lot of responsibility and liabilities – this is a profession that needs to attract and hold on to attentive, committed, well trained drivers to keep users safe.

“Higher wage economies are better for Wellington – people purchase more, can afford quality accommodation and are less reliant on social services.

“There is a very real danger that the Regional Council could ruin the livelihoods of hundreds of hard working Wellingtonians if they don’t protect current wages and conditions in new bids.”

ENDS

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