Glimmer of hope as bus drivers' unions find common ground

Three of the four unions involved in an ongoing dispute over Auckland bus drivers' pay and conditions met yesterday and found they shared some "common ground".

Stu Harper, president of the Akarana Public Drivers Association, said the meeting between his union, the Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union and the National Distribution Union was an improvement on recent tension between the groups.

But it was too soon to say when any firm resolution might occur to bring stability and certainty to Auckland's bus services.

The unions - with the Tramways Union - have been involved in tense negotiations with Auckland bus drivers' employer NZ Bus since August.

The three unions met yesterday without Tramways because it broke ranks last week and indicated it wanted to accept a company offer the others had rejected.

That was for bus drivers' and cleaners' pay to increase from $16.75 an hour to $18.75 over a three-year term.

"Common ground does exist," Mr Harper said, "in that we are committed to securing a deal from NZ Bus and that we feel the Auckland travelling public deserves to have a public transport service that is reliable."

He was reluctant to reveal more information while negotiations were still strained.

However, the Tramways Union had since indicated that it also wanted to meet the three groups.

Said Mr Harper: "That door is open for them to join us to restart negotiations."

It was hoped the meeting between all four unions would occur this week.