Wellington bus drivers fight to retain quality bus service

Wellington’s bus drivers will stop work on Tuesday 5 July to discuss industrial action in response to potential changes to service quality, wages and working conditions.

The stop work meeting will be from 9.30am to 2.00pm to minimise the impact on Wellingtonians.

The Tramways Union Wellington branch has been running a campaign representing drivers and consumer interests to correct a raft of changes proposed for Wellington’s bus services, including new routes and dirty diesel buses replacing trolley buses.

Bus routes currently operated by NZ Bus are being put out to tender by Greater Wellington Regional Council with documents likely to go to market in early July and take effect in early 2018.

Kevin O’Sullivan, Tramways Union Secretary, said there were real concerns that changes will trash service quality, and new providers will cut costs by targeting drivers’ wages and conditions, including introducing longer shifts for lower pay.

“’New routes will mean many people have to take two or three buses where they would normally take one, with people travelling in off-peak times worst affected,” said O’Sullivan.

“More changes will be bad for people with mobility issues and disabilities, as well as parents with prams, and an integrated ticketing system is still not confirmed. It will be bedlam.

“There are also implications for bus drivers pay and conditions: Standard driving shifts are currently eight hours spread across the day, with drivers typically away from home for 12-14 hours working up to 50 hours per week. NZ Bus paid a flat rate of $20.97 an hour to union members , going up to $21.25 at the end of the year.”

“A lower wage economy is not good for Wellington. Our city is known as a good place to live. That is dependent on people having decent wages. Higher wage economies are able to sustain higher value goods – and they can afford quality accommodation. That is good for everyone.”

Mr O’Sullivan said Go Bus paid $16.02 in Dunedin and up to $18 in Auckland, well below a living wage, and it was standard to work 10-12 hour shifts and 60 or more hours across six days, said O’Sullivan.

“The Regional Council determines what weighting wages and conditions get in their tender system. Wages are the biggest cost of operations and our fear is the Council will lean towards low-wage bidders,” said O’Sullivan.

“The New Zealand Transport Agency values life at $4m per person so bus drivers have an average cargo of $120m plus driving kit - it’s a big responsibility that requires careful, committed drivers.

“Longer shifts for lower pay will be bad for drivers and users. If GWRC bases tenders on lowest cost only Wellington will get lower quality service.

“There is a very real threat that after years of consultation Wellington will get a bus service that’s less accessible, less reliable, less fair for drivers and less environmentally friendly.”

Mr O’Sullivan said with the Regional Council elections coming up, it was deeply disappointing that many of the proponents of the industrial changes were associated with the Labour Party – either running under the Labour ticket or former Labour MPs.

O’Sullivan said there will be industrial action if current wages and conditions aren’t protected by GWRC in new bids.

ENDS

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