Auckland bus drivers vote against offer from NZ Bus

A large meeting of bus drivers in Auckland today has voted near unanimously to not accept an offer on pay and conditions from NZ Bus, and have instructed their representatives to return to negotiate a better deal.

The drivers, employees of NZ Bus, were voting on an offer from the company as part of negotiations for a new collective agreement, to replace the current 2009-2012 agreement.

Gary Froggatt for the Tramways Union and Karl Andersen for FIRST Union (formerly the National Distribution Union) and members of the bargaining team addressed the meeting, and representatives from the company were also invited and spoke to the drivers.

Karl Andersen, FIRST Union Transport & Logistics Secretary, said that there was a strong reaction from drivers against the offer.

"In the end the vote was 96.4 per cent in favour of not accepting the company's offer, and drivers have given their representatives a clear signal to go back to NZ Bus and put the case for a better offer."

"There was an overwhelming feeling from the meeting that the offer from NZ Bus was not sufficient."

Karl Andersen said the unions were committed to reaching a settlement, and would return for further negotiations with the company on Thursday and Friday of next week.