Auckland Transport backlogged by complaints as crisis grows

FIRST Union has obtained an email from a disgruntled bus passenger confirming an increased volume in complaints regarding bus services failing to deliver in the Auckland Region. The revelation comes amidst a number of bus operators and councils around the country experiencing similar issues.

FIRST Union’s Transport Organiser Emir Hodzic, points to the failures from local councils as the reason that Aucklanders are losing faith in their ability to provide a positive, on time service to the community, despite the best efforts by drivers who work long hours under demanding conditions.

“There simply aren’t enough people willing to work in these conditions. There is a wage crisis in the bus industry as a result of short-term thinking by councils and bus companies. Rather than make the job more attractive, the previous solution has been to hire cheaper labour through the exploitation of migrant workers which has only acted to cripple wages even more.”

FIRST Union has been warning of the looming bus crisis for over two years and the union’s members have been actively campaigning on it with their Bus Fair campaign. The campaign calls for the abolishment of the Public Transport Operating Model (PTOM) tendering model and the implementation of a Fair Pay Agreement for bus drivers to rectify the issues left behind by PTOM.

Mr Hodzic says fatigued drivers and buses not showing up show change is needed now.

“It will only get worse. Drivers are leaving the industry in droves and to say there is a driver shortage only ignores the real issue. If you look at how many people are qualified and trained to be bus drivers, we actually have an abundance of drivers, the issue is a wage crisis. Why would someone work a 12-hour day for eight hour’s pay when that isn’t even enough to live off and when they can go to almost any other industry and have better pay and a better work-life balance? The solution is easy, pay drivers enough to live off, make the job attractive and people will come back to the industry.”

A Way Forward: A Just Transition for environmental and social justice

Alana Dave who leads the Our Public Transport campaign for the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) told attendees at the Auckland Climate Symposium that a Just Transition may provide the framework to include the worker voice to ensure operating models such as PTOM don’t ignore the social responsibilities councils have.

“With workers on board, the political momentum that is needed to achieve the urgent scale of change that we need is much more likely. The outcomes of a Just Transition will benefit both the workforce and the community by improving the services for everyone. So by improving terms and conditions of employment, there will be higher rates of driver retention and more drivers improves safety which is good for the workforce as well as for passengers.”

She said the Just Transition is a key requirement of the Paris Agreement which New Zealand is signed to. A Just Transition includes the involvement of workers in the transition and International Labour Organisation’s decent work and quality jobs are a part of that transition.

“The ILO guidelines used in the Paris negotiations state the greening of economies presents an opportunity to achieve social objectives and reduce social inequalities mainly through the creation of decent jobs.”

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