Bus drivers' dispute widens
The Dominion Post
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Wellington
Tens of thousands of commuters are caught in the middle of a worsening industrial dispute, with most of Wellington's bus drivers locked out from tomorrow.
Go Wellington drivers will strike between 7.30am and 8.30am today, in the middle of the morning rush-hour, two days after rejecting the company's "final offer" of a 7 per cent pay rise.
Both Wellington City Council and Greater Wellington regional council urged people not to turn to their cars and cause traffic gridlock.
The dispute escalated further last night, with Go Wellington moving to lock out its drivers, meaning the company's 222 buses will be off the road indefinitely from tomorrow morning.
Manufacturing and Construction Union members joined the action yesterday by refusing to refuel buses.
The strike and lockout will affect almost all city routes.
Services run by Mana and Newlands Coach Services and Valley Flyer will run as normal.
"It is all on," said Wellington Tramways Union secretary Kevin O'Sullivan. "We don't want to do it but we have to."
Go Wellington general manager Bruce Kenyon described the lock- out notice as a last resort and said the company was committed to a return to negotiations.
"The intention of the strike activity is to create commuter chaos," he said.
Acting Wellington Mayor Ian McKinnon urged commuters to look at alternative plans for travel into central Wellington today and possibly in the days beyond.
The council was putting pressure on both parties to resolve the pay dispute, he said. "This has the very real potential to create absolute gridlock."
About 315 Go Wellington drivers are seeking an 8.6 per cent pay increase, but the company says 7 per cent is as high as it will go. No negotiations were held yesterday.
No buses will leave from the railway station or the Karori depot between 7.30am and 8.30am today, and those already on the road during those times will not pick up passengers. Twenty-three school bus trips will not run, affecting 14 schools.
Greater Wellington regional council spokesman Wayne Hastie said that, though many people would be tempted to drive into the city, this could simply create more congestion and delays.
"We'd strongly encourage people who have to travel between that time to, if possible, consider other options."
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"Both Wellington City Council and Greater Wellington regional council urged people not to turn to their cars and cause traffic gridlock" Uhmmm...so how are we supposed to get to work then? Teletransportation? This is so typical of people in management who aren't really suffering the consequences of this strike. What about those of us who don't have a car? I'm certainly not walking from the train station all the way to Newtown.
Phil,
Go Wellington didn't raise the bus fare, Metlink (regional council) who the buses run under contract to raised the fares to maintain bus shelters as you say.
The radio told us that services from Karori Park and Railway Station were affected this morning, but it looks like this seemed stop other services from Miramar or Seatoun running too!
Go Wellington has raised the ticket prices, they claim part of this is to maintain bus shelters; considering most of the modern shelters are owned by advertisers, where does this money go? They've got increased revenue by the increased passenger numbers over the last 12 months due to increased petrol prices.
As for the post by enforced excercise! - As long as you walk with me from Miramar to town and back every day, I'll do it too.
This situation is absolutely ridiculous. People rely on these services. There has been little notification, Surely as a "public" service someone should have been out there telling people there wouldn't be buses. I couldn't even find this story on Stuff, I had to come into the Dominion pages.
They definitely should be paid more! I agree, the snapper system has added a lot of extra work and hassle, and it's a hard and stressful job. Granted some drivers drive badly and are grumpy and rude, but you get this in every job. If I had to deal with thousands of commuters every day I'd not be too pleased either!
So... walking to work every day... well someone has to make me exercise!
The bus drivers should be getting paid more especially after the introduction of the new Snapper system they have had to endure. Personally, hearing "Please don't forget to tag off..." at every stop, would drive me crazy.
Good luck drivers!
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Actually the snapper system will eventually save work. In Singapore, a similar system works very well. Commuters just tag on & off as they board and alight buses, trains etc... No more (or very little) money exchange, clicking tickets, asking how much, checking whether someone has underpaid or overpaying ..... a snap!