Beats People Movement

… and it’s not because the drivers are “on strike”.

I’ve had to correct a few people on this point over the past few days. Seems the mainstream media in NZ aren’t doing their job.

Here’s a summary:

• The drivers start on $14.05 an hour, significantly less than drivers at other Auckland bus companies get.
• The drivers are seeking an increase of 6.8 percent this year, taking the starting wage from $14.05 to $15 an hour.
• Presently, the pay rate climbs to $15.30 after three months employment before peaking at $16.75 after nine months.
• In response to not being offered a fair deal,the workers have said that they will ‘work-to-rule’ Ie. Work to the letter of their contracts – no more free overtime or skipped health and safety procedures.
• The situation is therefore by definition a lockout not a strike.
• The driver’s contracts state they should have regular toilet and exercise breaks and not drive buses that aren’t running 100%. These are the aspects of their contracts they are being advised to follow (by their union representatives).
• The cited reason for Infratil / NZ Bus’ hard line on this is it’s promise to shareholders.. “Infratil’s goal is a 20% per annum [net] return to shareholders over the long term.”
• NZ Bus said that passenger numbers in Auckland were up 6.9 per cent in the year to July.
• Infratil’s operating revenue was up 28 per cent, and public transport use in Auckland was at a 25-year high.
• NZ Bus and companies like it receive government subsidies to operate travel services.
• Meanwhile it’s Aucklanders that deal with finding alternative travel, increased congestion on the roads and scarcer parking in Auckland’s CBD.

This entry was posted on Friday, October 9th, 2009 at 6:04 pm and is filed under activism, photos, people, movement, auckland. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.