Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More

Local Govt | National News Video | Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Search

 

Council must take responsibility for driver shortages

Regional council must take responsibility for driver shortages


Wellington Tramways Union media release - 19 February, 2019

The Greater Wellington Regional Council's concern about a bus driver shortage is hypocrisy at its worst says the Wellington Tramways Union.


The call comes as the council has increased its complaints about the driver shortage they helped create. Union Secretary Kevin O'Sullivan says the council has no credibility on this issue after their attack on Wellington bus drivers' terms and conditions. "The council's hypocrisy would be comic if it wasn't for the immense uncertainty and anguish they have put drivers through in the last three years.


"It was the regional council who tendered the work out without protecting terms and conditions, and who changed the routes to make them a nightmare to drive.


"They did this after we repeatedly warned them about the problems it would cause, now they've done the damage they're trying to blame anyone else but themselves.


"It's particularly galling to see them attacking NZ Bus, the employer who has dealt with its drivers in good faith and settled their collective employment agreement while giving a free pass once again to Tranzit; the company that has refused to engage with its drivers or their union for over a year now.


"Chris Laidlaw and Daran Ponter need to realise they can't get away with turning bus driving in Wellington into a job people don't want and then whinging about shortages.

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.


"In September of last year CTU President Richard Wagstaff told the council there is no way Wellington’s bus service can be fixed without the drivers’ having the security of a decent collective agreement. The driver shortage will get worse, he was right, but they weren't listening.


"The answer the GWRC is after is simple. Get Tranzit to the table to negotiate a collective employment agreement, and make driving a bus in Wellington something people want to do again."

ENDS

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines


Gordon Campbell: On The US Opposition To Mortgage Interest Deductibility For Landlords


Should landlords be able to deduct the interest on the loans they take out to bankroll their property speculation? The US Senate Budget Committee and Bloomberg News don't think this is a good idea, for reasons set out below. Regardless, our coalition government has been burning through a ton of political capital by giving landlords a huge $2.9 billion tax break via interest deductibility, while still preaching the need for austerity to the disabled, and to everyone else...
More


 
 

Government: Concerns Conveyed To China Over Cyber Activity
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government. “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity... More

ALSO:


Government: GDP Decline Reinforces Government’s Fiscal Plan

Declining GDP for the December quarter reinforces the importance of restoring fiscal discipline to public spending and driving more economic growth, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says... More

ALSO:


Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.