Auckland Combined Unions issue notice of impending industrial action.
Bus services suspended from 4am Wednesday September 9th

The Auckland Combined Unions have issued a notice of industrial action commencing 4am Wednesday September 9th and continuing until further notice. The Auckland Combined Unions represent bus drivers who work for Metrolink, Go West, Waka Pacific, North Star, Link, and City Circuit bus services.

Since June, Transportation Auckland Corporation (TACL) &Cityline New Zealand Limited have been participating in negotiations with the unions representing the majority of bus drivers & cleaners in Auckland to agree a new combined employment agreement for their members. The unions involved in the negotiations are the Auckland Tramways Union, the Akarana Union, the Northern Distribution Union (NDU) and the Engineers, Printers and Manufacturers Union (EPMU).

“It is our desire to negotiate a CEA without industrial activity adversely impacting our people or our customers, “says Zane Fulljames, GM Operations. “We are motivated to reach an agreement and to limit any impact or inconvenience for our customers. “

“On Friday evening, September 4th the Unions communicated a formal notification of industrial activity” Mr Fulljames continues. “We were somewhat surprised by this given we have been communicating for the last two days in conjunction with mediation services and had also put a revised offer on the table. “

“We have encouraged the unions to seriously consider the revised offer prior to taking any action,” says Mr Fulljames. “We have asked that the Unions take this revised offer to their members and have been very clear in communicating to them that we have put forward the company’s best offer. The move to industrial action is disappointing.”

“A 9.9 % increase over three years (3.5/3/3.4 % respectively) is an exceptionally fair one in this economy. You only have to look at other negotiations in the market to recognize this. It is twice the rate of inflation and nearly twice CPI which is currently sitting at 1.9, “he says. “It seems extraordinary that in today’s economy this offer is not being taken seriously. The unions’ current claims are in excess of 20 per cent over a three year period which is simply not sustainable for any business.”

“If the Unions follow through on their threat of industrial action, we will be unable to operate our business reliably or safely. This is unacceptable to us and as a result will suspend all bus services from 4.00am 9th September.”

Normal services will be able to resume if either the unions lift their notice of strike action and agree to resume bargaining, or if the members ratify an agreement that accepts the terms and conditions of the latest offer

“This is not a course of action we take lightly” says Mr Fulljames. “ The place to negotiate is at the negotiating table, not through industrial action. “

“Our priority now is to communicate with our customers to minimise the inconvenience to them “

ENDS

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