Deal reached in Stagecoach bus dispute

Buses will be back on Auckland roads tomorrow morning, but drivers will stop work in the afternoon to consider a new contract.

A deal has been reached in the Auckland bus dispute – but is subject to drivers agreeing to it tomorrow.

Drivers were due back at work at midnight tonight but will stop work again tomorrow to hear a proposal agreed to by bus company Stagecoach and combined union advocates at mediation talks today. 

If accepted by drivers it is expected to prevent further strike action. 

Details of the proposal will remain secret until it is put to the drivers tomorrow. But Newstalk ZB reported it includes $1200 in back-pay.  

About 900 Stagecoach drivers have been on strike since late Wednesday last week in their push for a wage increase to take their hourly rate to $16.  

Mediator Keith Handley said the proposal was agreed at the meeting today but needed to be ratified by the drivers.

The strike is believed to have cost more than $1 million.  

Extra train and buses provided by other operators have been crammed and peak hour traffic flows have been extended by an increase in the number of private cars being brought into the city by passengers who normally catch a bus. 

Mediated pay talks had resumed between union representatives and the Stagecoach company last night. The sides spent several hours in Labour Department mediation rooms before adjourning overnight.  

Combined unions advocate Gary Froggatt last night described the talks as "interesting" but would say no more. 

Stagecoach's more than 70,000 daily passengers have faced six days without buses during the strike due to end tonight.  

Although it has automatically lost public subsidies as well as fares, Auckland City Council's transport committee wants the regional council's transport authority to consider tightening performance measures in future bus contracts to guard against more disruption.  

Stagecoach's previous best offer to drivers was of a $600 cash sum in lieu of six months' backpay, and an hourly wage of $15 now, to be followed by $15.33c next year and $16 in 2007.  

The drivers have been battling for an immediate rise to $16, but Mr Froggatt has said they may be prepared to accept $15 with full backpay for a one-year deal.  

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- NZPA, HERALD STAFF