8 July 2015

New rosters are fairer to more drivers, says NZ Bus

NZ Bus creates new rosters for its business a couple of times a year, usually when there has been a change to timetables.

On 19th July, new rosters will start for approximately half of the eleven hundred drivers in Auckland, in response to timetable changes. In these new rosters, weekend work will be more evenly spread across all staff. Previously some drivers worked little or no weekends, thus putting a greater burden on the rest of the drivers to cover weekend work. In an effort to be fair, NZ Bus wants to share weekend work across all drivers. The change means that some of the longer serving drivers may be required to work more weekends.

NZ Bus Chief Operating Officer Northern, Shane McMahon, says that the business has a set amount of weekend work it is contracted to do. “We believe that sharing that weekend work across all employees is fairer and means that some of the younger drivers with families are not required to work an excessive number of weekends.”

NZ Bus has consulted with the Tramways and FIRST unions, representing the majority of their bus drivers in Auckland. Despite consultation, the unions have responded negatively to the new rosters.

“We appreciate there will be vocal resistance from a few drivers, who are seeking to maintain their position, but it is about doing what is right for the majority of our people”, says Mr McMahon. “We are however willing to consider those people with exceptional circumstances and an offer has been made to the unions.”

NZ Bus is committed to transforming transport in Auckland and the recent improvement in punctuality from 83% two years ago in June, to 94% this year is testament to that. NZ Bus is intending to proceed with the new rosters, which it considers are fairer to more drivers.

NZ Bus confirms that bus services will not be affected as a result of the protest march and that the new rosters are safe and comply with all NZTA work time rules.

-ends-

© Scoop Media