Company will honour ERA recommendation to resolve dispute

This morning at 10am the Employment Relations Authority made their recommendation to resolve the industrial impasse between the Auckland Combined Unions and NZ Bus.

Since Thursday October 8th, NZ Bus and the coalition of four unions that make up the Auckland Combined Unions have been in facilitation with the Employment Relations Authority in order to resolve a long standing pay dispute. In order to avert industrial action, NZ Bus filed an application for facilitation with the Employment Relations Authority on Friday 18th September to assist both parties to reach an agreement.

“Facilitation has always been our preferred path rather than industrial action,” says Zane Fulljames, G M Operations. “ We will honour the ERA’s recommendation.”

The details of the ERA recommendation are private to the parties involved in the process.

“We have always said that resolving the issue in facilitation was the responsible way to reach agreement. We consider both parties should seize this opportunity to reach a settlement,” says Zane Fulljames.

The Auckland Combined Unions will meet with their members this morning at 11am at Alexandra Park to discuss the recommendation. The four unions that make up the Auckland Combined Unions represent the approximately 900 bus drivers and cleaners who work for Metrolink, North Star, Go West, Waka Pacific, LINK and City Circuit bus services.

“We trust that the Unions have made every effort to ensure the attendance of their full membership and represent the recommendation responsibly,” Fulljames continues.

“As a gesture of good will, in order to get buses back on the road, we have offered to lift the lock-out notice and resume all normal services, with effect from 4:00am tomorrow, Thursday October 15th,” says Fulljames. “This is on the proviso that by 1:30pm today the unions also lift their strike notice and agree to work with the facilitator to reach a ratified settlement.”

“If the Unions are genuine about resuming services for our customers, we trust they will join with us to get our buses back on the roads for our customers.”

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