Auckland bus strike goes ahead tomorrow

There will be no Stagecoach buses running in Auckland on Monday.

Drivers are to strike after refusing the company's pay offer.

They have been offered an initial pay rise of 7.6 per cent, lifting wages from $13.94 to $15 an hour. The company said it had been willing to lift this to $15.33 next year and to $16 in 2007.

But the drivers' union said this did not go far enough.

All services, including The Link and school buses, will be out of action from 4am Monday for 24 hours.

Talks are due to resume on Tuesday.

Russell Turnbull, marketing manager for Stageoach, told nzherald.co.nz: "This is not a great position to be in. We have no intention of sitting on our hands on this one."

He advised people to share a ride, cycle, use ferries or trains or other bus companies.