KEY POINTS:
Auckland bus drivers are being advised by their union to "borrow" cash from their passengers today, after being shocked to learn they will not receive their weekly wages in time for Christmas.
Tramways Union president Gary Froggatt said he suggested they withhold cash takings until receiving wages into their bank accounts from NZ Bus tomorrow, to ensure they and their families will not miss out on Christmas trappings.
He said the alternative was an immediate strike, which drivers at the company's Mt Roskill were threatening this morning, after being shocked to find no money in their bank accounts for last-minute Christmas shopping.
That would have jeopardised free bus trips which the company traditionally offers the public throughout Auckland every Christmas Day.
"They were ready to walk off right then and there, so I managed to get there in time," Mr Froggatt said, while on his way to try to ease tensions of drivers at other bus depots around Auckland.
He accused the company of double standards in extending seasonal goodwill to the public, but not to its 1500 or so employees in Auckland and Wellington, many of whom lived "week to week" with little ability to save up for special occasions.
"They are offering goodwill to the public of Auckland but they won't give the drivers money to buy their kids presents or put food on the table for Christmas."
Mr Froggatt said he talked the Mt Roskill drivers out of going on strike, after explaining that all the bus company's senior managers appeared to have disappeared for the Christmas break, so they appeared to have no chance of forcing early wage payments.
He said that as long as drivers did not admit to depot managers why money was missing from their fareboxes, they had 24 hours to repay it.
"But the problem is that not many passengers are travelling today and the drivers are not taking much cash."
The union leader said the company was more in tune with the yuletide spirit last year, when it paid drivers two days before Christmas Day, which fell on a Wednesday.
When company notices posted around depots yesterday advised drivers that their payslips would be available today, they assumed that meant their wages would also be deposited in their bank accounts.
A company representative confirmed there would be no change to the normal pay cycle, by which direct-credited wage payments were made every Thursday, "as per normal and as is mutually negotiated and agreed by the unions and ratified by their members."
Asked what would happen if the drivers hold on to farebox cash until tomorrow, she said: "I think the depots will deal with that, if and when it occurs."
