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Auckland buses will be running as normal from tomorrow, though the industrial dispute between drivers and NZ Bus is still to be resolved.
The drivers today rejected a new offer which came from facilitation, but they offered to suspend their work-to-rule if NZ Bus lifted its lockout.
The company this afternoon announced it would do so.
“We are delighted that from tomorrow our people can return.
“This afternoon the unions have contacted us and as a result both parties have mutually suspended industrial action so that buses can be back on the road from tomorrow,” NZ Bus operations manager Zane Fulljames said. .”
All buses operated by NZ Bus, the largest bus operator in Auckland, have been off the road since last Thursday when the company locked out about 900 drivers who voted to work strictly to their rule book in support of their wage claim.
The company and the coalition of four unions that make up the Auckland Combined Unions were in facilitation with the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) during the lockout to try to resolve the five month dispute.
Tramways Union spokesman Gary Froggatt told that 95 percent of the bus drivers rejected the latest wage offer put before them today, but they were prepared to lift the work-to-rule action.
NZ Bus, owned by Infratil, said earlier today that it would honour the ERA’s recommendation, though it didn’t say what that recommendation was.”
Mr Froggatt said the drivers approved the continuation of facilitation.
“They have resolved to ask the company to lift the lockout, and in return they will suspend the work-to-rule action.
Mr Fulljames said the company apologised for the inconvenience to Auckland commuters and he looked forward to the full resumption of services from tomorrow.
“It is positive that both parties have agreed to return to facilitation led by the Employment Relations Authority tomorrow,” Mr Fulljames said.
The drivers were seeking a substantial increase on their rate of between $14.
The drivers were seeking a substantial increase on their rate of between $14.
The company said it had offered 10.75 an hour.
The company’s lockout prompted Auckland Regional Transport Authority to suspend its average daily subsidy of $160,000 to NZ Bus while the buses were not running.5 per cent over three years in a “competitive and substantial in this economy”.