Bus drivers' unions agree with NZ Bus on pay-rise

The drivers have rejected one pay-rise proposal and their negotiators will meet NZ Bus chiefs again tomorrow. Photo / Richard Robinson

The long standing fight between Auckland bus drivers and their employer could come to an end on Wednesday.

NZ Bus and the unions who represent their drivers have come to an agreement on a pay-rise.

The unions will recommend that drivers and cleaners accept the offer when they meet on Wednesday.

The offer is not known and neither side is talking to the media.

Previously, unions have demanded pay rises totalling $1.80 an hour in two instalments over 29 months, and an increase in the overtime rate from time and a quarter to time and a half.

The company has offered the pay rises in three instalments over 36 months but no change to the overtime rate.

The Employment Relations Authority had recommended pay rises totalling $1.40 an hour in two instalments over 30 months and no change to the overtime rate. About 500 drivers and cleaners voted by a 95 per cent margin to reject the recommendation.

Bus drivers and unions have been in a dispute for five months. The drivers were locked-out earlier this month after issuing a work-to-rule notice.

NZ Bus, owned by Infratil, had its $160,000-a-day subsidy cut by the Auckland Regional Transport Authority during the lock-out. The authority also threatened to cancel contracts.

NZ Bus operates Metrolink, North Star, Waka Pacific, Go West, Link and City Circuit buses.

The services will be disrupted at off-peak times on Wednesday to allow drivers to attend the meeting.