Bus stoppage 'could last days'

Bus driver Michael Sayers sits outside the gate as bus drivers are locked out of the North Star depot on the North Shore. Photo / NZPA

Commuter disruption could last five or six days in Auckland unless 900 bus drivers and their employer settle a wage dispute.

Up to 80,000 passengers were forced to find alternative ways to get to work today as the drivers were locked out by NZ Bus.

The lockout followed the drivers issuing the company with a work-to-rule notice.

Other bus companies not involved in the dispute provided some buses but could not cope with the number of waiting commuters.

Traffic was heavier on motorways and feeder roads around Auckland and would have been much worse but for school holidays.

The drivers began arriving for work at depots around the city from 4am but were turned away.

Both the drivers and NZ Bus were due to meet later today with the Employment Relations Authority to decide if another mediation process would begin.

However, Gary Froggatt, president of the Tramways Union which represents about 600 of the locked out drivers, said the work-to-rule notice would not be withdrawn until there was a settlement.

He said that could mean no buses for several days unless there was a move from the company because the unions would not back down.

"The drivers have given the unions instruction that we are not to withdraw the work to rule notice unless there is a settlement."

He said that meant the ball was in the company's court.

"They will find it very hard to get the drivers back to work now that they have locked them out."

NZ Bus general manager operations Zane Fulljames said yesterday all Go West, Waka Pacific, Link and City Circuit services would be suspended for the day.

"We apologise sincerely to our customers. This is not a course of action we have taken lightly."

He said the company had made a "very substantive offer" of a 10.5 per cent pay increase over three years.

He also accused the unions of having no interest in resolving the issue responsibly.

He said it could be resolved very simply by the unions lifting their notice of strike action.

Mr Froggatt said the drivers were not on strike as a notice of a work to rule was not strike action.

He said the company had offered an increase of $1.80 an hour over three years. The union said it would accept that offer but wanted it paid out in two parts and not three.

Auckland Regional Council said yesterday it may impose a financial penalty on NZ Bus for withdrawing services.

Auckland Regional Council chairman Mike Lee said the approximate figure of $150,000 should not be paid to the company today.

"This is equivalent to a boss's strike. When workers go on strike, they don't get paid and neither should NZ Bus when it deliberately locks out workers and therefore the travelling public," Mr Lee said.

NZ Bus spokeswoman Siobhan O'Donovan said they have not had any formal request from the council to pay the money back. She said the company will consider a formal request if one is made.

Mr Lee said the council is looking at other possible sanctions against the company because the council has invested in building up a reliable public transport network and the lock-out goes against that.

"I would hate for this to become a habit but we are talking about a ruthless investment company here, it's all about the bottom line and money - not a public service. When it comes to the public, they're held as hostage," Mr Lee said.

- NZPA, NZ HERALD STAFF

WHAT WILL RUN

* Only NZ Bus services will be affected by strike action. These include Metrolink, North Star, Go West, Waka Pacific, Link and City Circuit services.

* Ritchies, Northern Express, Birkenhead, Bayes, Howick and Eastern, Murphys, Urban Express, Waiheke Island buses, Tranzit, Ritchies and Airbus Express services will run as usual.

Limited replacement services will be in place as follows:
* Hibiscus Coast (Bayes Coachlines): Express services from Orewa at 6.40am and 7.20am to Auckland. Services from Pacific Plaza at 6.50am and 7.30am to Auckland. All trips via busway from Constellation.
* New Lynn via Great North Rd (Ritchies Transport): Every 15 minutes between 7am and 8.30am from New Lynn to Britomart. Every 15 minutes between 4pm and 6pm Britomart to New Lynn.
* Dominion Rd (Ritchies Transport): Every 10 minutes between 6.30am and 8.30am and then every 30 minutes between 8.30am and 5.30pm between Mt Roskill shops and Civic Centre. Every 30 minutes between 8am and 4pm and then every 10 minutes between 4pm and 6.30pm between the Civic Centre and Mt Roskill shops.
* Mt Eden Rd (Airbus): Airbus will pick up from Three Kings and at all stops along Mt Eden Rd to the CBD and return.
* Manukau Rd (Johnston's): Every 15 minutes between 7am and 8.30am and then every 30 minutes until 6pm between Onehunga and Wellesley St. Normal cash stage fares apply. Every 30 minutes between 8am and 4pm and then every 15 minutes until 7pm between Wellesley St and Onehunga.
* Bus services from South and West Auckland will be minimal. Commuters are advised to use trains or car-pooling.
Details of timetables and operators can be found on www.maxx.co.nz or by phoning (09) 366-6400 or (0800) 10 30 80