Strike notice received before negotiation started

Strike notice received before negotiation started

Drivers and other workers employed by GO Wellington and Valley Flyer (NZ Bus) and another employer, Mana Coach Services (Souter Holdings Ltd), will walk off the job at 9am on Wednesday, 28 April with negotiations yet to start.

GO Wellington, Valley Flyer and Mana Coach Services have been communicating with the Wellington Tramways Union and the M&C Union to define a Bargaining Process Agreement (BPA).

“The unions’ wish is to create a regional Collective Employment Agreement that would cover the majority of bus public transport in the Wellington region,” says Zane Fulljames, General Manager Operations.

The purpose of a BPA is to set out the process under which negotiations can be conducted between the parties.

GO Wellington and Valley Flyer have said that they could work on amending the BPA used during the last collective negotiation held in 2008 at GO Wellington to reflect the different requirements needed for a multi-employer Collective Agreement. GO Wellington and Valley Flyer also said they could work with the BPA proposed by Mana Coach Services.

“GO Wellington, Valley Flyer and the unions had agreed the first dates of negotiation would happen in the first week of May,” says Mr Fulljames.

“However, on Monday, 26 April formal notice of strike action was received from the Wellington Tramways Union and the M&C Union advising they were dissatisfied with progress and that they intended to undertake strike action on Wednesday, 28 April.”

“At the time strike notice was received, the parties had yet to formally exchange claims. The strike notice did not provide any options for remedy.”

This strike notice will affect approximately 55,000 Wellington commuters.

“Our advice to customers is to make alternative arrangements for their travel on Wednesday from 9am,” concludes Mr Fulljames.

With the strike not occurring until 9am and a return to work at 2pm it is that anticipated school services will not be impacted at either end of the day.

The unions’ strike action will impact GO Wellington, Valley Flyer and Airport Flyer services. Runcimans bus services will operate as normal.

ENDS

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