Media Release:
Wellington Tramways Union rejects Go Wellington Pay offer and elects union exec

At Wednesday’s stopwork meeting The Wellington Tramways Union rejected Go Wellington’s latest inadequate pay offer and elected the a new union executive.

According to company figures drivers in Wellington had their annual income reduced by 19% in 2007 as a result of shift changes desired to restrict access to penal rates. The companies current pay offer stands at only 6.2% and in addition the company wish to introduce a draconian complaints procedure for drivers. This offer was rejected by 208 votes to 23 and drivers also voted to take limited industrial action if the company didn’t come up with an improved offer.

The stopwork meeting also elected a new executive for the Wellington Tramways who represent drivers at Go Wellington, Valley Flyer in the Hutt Valley and Mana Newlands buses out in Porirua and the Kapiti Coast.

Kevin O’Sullivan was elected the new Wellington Tramways Secretary. The former secretary Phil Griffiths passed away suddenly in June of this year. Kevin worked alongside Phil for 15 years as the Wellington Tramways President.

“Wellington bus drivers have held onto conditions such as double time on Sundays which most other drivers lost after the employment contracts act and deregulation of the bus industry in the late 1980’s”, said Kevin. “I hope to continue to good work of the Wellington Tramways Union that happened under Phil’s leadership”.

Former Victoria University Student politician Nick Kelly was elected as the Wellington Tramways President. This position was held by Engineers Union official Paul Tolich in the 1980’s.

“Its important that drivers stand together and fight for better pay and conditions for themselves and all other workers. Previous attempts to divide Wellington drivers by employers have failed such as the attempt to introduce a flat rate contract at Go Wellington in 2007” said Nick. “I am optimistic that this unity will continue in the future”.

Long serving driver and Tramways Delegate Chris Morley was elected as the Vice – President.

Also at the stopwork union delegates at Go Wellington were elected.

2008 is the 100th anniversary of the Wellington Tramways Union. The new executive team intend to fighting for a better life for drivers in Wellington as the union has done for the last century.

ENDS

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