Commuter nightmares likely as bus drivers reject pay offer

NZ Bus drivers have rejected a pay offer, leaving commuters facing travel disruptions. Photo / Paul Estcourt

Thousands of Auckland commuters could have their travel plans disrupted, after nearly 98 per cent of workers rejected an offer by NZ Bus today.

A union meeting today saw NZ Bus drivers and cleaners vote by almost 98 per cent against a pay rise by their employer in a secret ballot.

NZ Bus and their unionised staff have been in negotiations over pay rates. The talks broke down last week and a work to rule notice was issued by the unions before the company responded with a lock-out notice.

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

NZ Bus operations manager Zane Fulljames said it was "bitterly disappointing" that the offer - of a 10.4 per cent pay rise over three years - had been rejected.

"The Unions have clearly lost touch with economic reality. We have been very clear that the offer tabled on Tuesday was our best offer," Mr Fulljames said.

The improved offer would have seen drivers with nine months experience on $16.75 an hour - which covers 90 per cent of the drivers - receive an 11 per cent increase over three years. Drivers with less experience were to receive a slightly higher pay rise of up to 13 per cent.

"The company invests in excess of $41.5 million dollars a year in its people in Auckland. The improved offer represented an additional 4.75 million dollars to our people over three years," Mr Fulljames said.

Auckland bus services stopped between 10am and 2pm today for the union meeting to be held which included members from the Akarana Public Drivers' Association, the Auckland Tramways Union, the National Distribution Union and the Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union.

National Distribution Union spokesman Karl Andersen said the pay offer was "heavily rejected".

He said it was highly likely that a strike would take place.

"Hardly anyone supported the offer at all," Mr Andersen said.

He said he called the NZ Bus negotiator who told him there were no other offers coming.

Mr Andersen said union delegates will meet on Sunday to discuss future plans which could involve strike action.

NZ Bus, which runs 70 per cent of Auckland's bus services and carries 80,000 passengers a day, lifted its notice of an indefinite lockout to staff and amended its offer after previous mediation talks. Unions followed by withdrawing their notice of strike action that could have seen 900 drivers and cleaners walk off the job.