Auckland rail strike averted

Auckland's train commuters will have a smooth ride home this afternoon after changes to rail staff safety were agreed to by the union and their employer.

Rail and Maritime Workers Union coordinator Todd Valster said staff working on the trains will now be able to communicate with the driver and more Maori Wardens will be on late night trains.

Mr Valster said last week a staff member was beaten up and robbed when she was working by herself on a train. The woman is still off work.

This afternoon's agreement between the union and train operator Veolia means that a planned stop work meeting between 2pm and 5.30pm will not now go ahead. The meeting could have caused chaos to Auckland's Friday afternoon commuter traffic.

"There were concerns raised and the feeling amongst members was that they were not being addressed and getting trains from A to B was more important," Mr Valster said.

He said Veolia Transport have two months to put the changes into place.

The union has said there was an average of one attack a month on Auckland rail workers.

That was despite frequent requests to Veolia for greater protection, including an extension of coverage by Maori wardens, who are contracted to ride on most but not all trains from 8pm each night and while children are travelling to and from school.

Veolia managing director Graham Sibery said last night that the company deplored the latest attack, which was one of eight in the past year, and was keen to take all practical steps to prevent further attacks.

Auckland Regional Transport chairman Mike Lee said he was pleased with the result of the meeting and that commuters will not be disrupted.

"The travelling public is innocent in all of this," Mr Lee said.

He said the council is willing to go down to Veolia and "bang the table" if necessary because staff had to feel secure.

"Just as we want the union to look after the interests of the public, it is up to us as the funder to ensure that the people who work in the sector have adequate security," Mr Lee said.

The Auckland Regional Transport Authority declined to comment on the negotiations.

- With NZHERALD STAFF