Bus fleet to resume normal operations

Bus services were briefly disrupted by talk of industrial action by the union. Photo / Supplied

Auckland's main bus fleet has resumed normal operations, despite a strong vote by union drivers to strike in the New Year.

Just under 500 NZ Bus drivers and service staff wrapped up an unpaid stopwork meeting in a Balmoral in time to return to their deports to run afternoon commuter services from 3pm.

The meeting to discuss negotiations for a new collective employment agreement left the company running just skeleton services from 11am, although the various Link circuit buses operated normally.

Auckland Tramways Union president Gary Froggatt said the drivers were committed to getting passengers back home again, if they had relied on buses to get to work.

But Mr Froggatt, who ran the meeting with First Union organiser Rudd Hughes, said only two dissenting votes were cast in a ballot to take unspecified industrial action unless NZ Bus improved an offer of a 0.75 per cent wage rise and rolled back sweeping roster changes introduced in July.

He said the action could include anything from working to rule to a full withdrawal of labour, and no dates had been specified.

Mr Hughes said drivers were disappointed the bus company was refusing to resume pay talks until the end of January, and he feared that would result in a protracted dispute.

NZ Bus executive Tonia Haskell said the company was pleased to advised that all its Auckland services had resumed after the meeting.

"Bargaining with the First and Tramways unions will resume in January 2016 -- we are looking forward to a constructive conversation that results in positive outcomes for all parties," she said.

"Meri Kirihimete and enjoy the festive season."

First Union is also in pay talks with four smaller bus companies, all preparing to try to outbid one other in new route tendering rounds with Auckland Transport.

Mr Hughes said another company from outside Auckland, which was non-unionised, was also waiting for an opening in the city and he called on the council transport agency to put a higher rating on quality of services in its evaluation of bids.

A strike notice again Birkenhead Transport was withdrawn yesterday, after the company backed down on an alleged attempt to reduce overtime pay, but other talks such as with Ritchies Transport and Howick and Eastern remain up in the air.

An Auckland Transport spokesman said his council organisation did not intend commenting on the bus company pay talks.