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

Video | Agriculture | Confidence | Economy | Energy | Employment | Finance | Media | Property | RBNZ | Science | SOEs | Tax | Technology | Telecoms | Tourism | Transport | Search

 

NZBus drivers vote to join free fares strike from next week

Over 800 FIRST Union and NZ Tramways Union members who drive buses for Auckland’s largest bus company, NZ Bus, will be joining striking Go Bus drivers from Monday next week in not collecting passenger fares, meaning around half of all Auckland bus trips will be free to the public, FIRST Union said today.

NZ Bus drivers gathered yesterday in Auckland and voted not to accept the company’s settlement offer, instead deciding to join their colleagues from Go Bus, who are currently taking partial strike action until Christmas Eve by refusing to collect fares on buses departing from the company’s Mangere and East Tamaki depots.

The unions point to systemic issues resulting from the flawed procurement model for urban bus operators, PTOM (Public Transport Operating Model), as underlying both sets of bus drivers’ concerns. Initially, NZ Bus drivers will be taking this strike action for one week, beginning on Monday 2nd December.

Jared Abbott, FIRST Union Secretary for Transport, Operations and Logistics, said a resolution will require Auckland Transport - the contractee of both bus companies - to be involved in finding a solution.

"All of the concerns we raised about the effect PTOM would have if it went ahead have already come true in Auckland," said Mr Abbott. "It’s not good enough to just shrug our shoulders and say it's here now and that's that - drivers are struggling, the industry is facing a shortage, and we seem to be the only ones proposing solutions."

"Yesterday, drivers from the biggest bus operator in Auckland said "enough is enough" and voted for a free fares strike to let the company and Auckland Transport know that they won’t be the casualties of a system designed to disadvantage them."

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.

"A free fares strike is a positive way of drawing attention to the need to resolve the problems caused by PTOM while engaging the public and causing no disruption to passengers."

"Go Bus drivers, who kicked off their free fares strike the day before yesterday, say the South Auckland public has been completely supportive and reiterate that they have received no criticism from anyone but their employer, who has as usual gone above and beyond in attempts to frighten and divide the drivers - they’re not having a bar of it."

"For passengers, next week might be a good time to hop on the bus and get your Christmas shopping done."


© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Business Headlines | Sci-Tech Headlines

 
GenPro: General Practices Begin Issuing Clause 14 Notices

GenPro has been copied into a rising number of Clause 14 notices issued since the NZNO lodged its Primary Practice Pay Equity Claim against General Practice employers in December 2023.More

SPADA: Screen Industry Unites For Streaming Platform Regulation & Intellectual Property Protections

In an unprecedented international collaboration, representatives of screen producing organisations from around the world have released a joint statement.More

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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.