Last-ditch move to halt bus lockout

Auckland bus drivers facing a mass indefinite lockout from early tomorrow say they will report to work as usual, even if a last-ditch mediation bid fails today.

Their unions claim it is NZ Bus, not the 900 drivers and cleaners in a pay dispute with the company, that will be the cause of disruption to Aucklanders if they find themselves locked out.

But the Infratil subsidiary, which operates 70 per cent of Auckland bus services and carries up to 80,000 passengers a day, says it will be unable to run its business safely or reliably if drivers impose bans listed in a strike notice.

Operations general manager Zane Fulljames said the company was pleased to have been invited to attend talks this morning with the four unions in the presence of a mediator.

"We are keen to hear what they have to say," he said.

But he added that because the unions had not withdrawn their strike notice, "the situation remains unchanged and we believe our customers should look for alternative ways to get to work and school on Wednesday."

Auckland Regional Council chairman Mike Lee weighed into the dispute yesterday, calling for restraint from both sides but accusing the company of overreacting to a threat of low-level industrial action, at the expense of tens of thousands of passengers.

He said there appeared to be major problems in trying to run Auckland's public transport system from offices in Wellington, where Infratil is based.

"If someone in a boardroom on The Terrace in Wellington is going to lock out the people driving our buses, causing a huge amount of inconvenience, that's not very helpful at all."

The company is apologising to passengers in newspaper and radio advertising, and the Auckland Regional Transport Authority has arranged for other operators to provide bus services along key routes including from Hibiscus Coast, New Lynn, Mt Roskill, Three Kings and Onehunga to central Auckland, and vice versa.

Authority customer services general manager Mark Lambert said demand would be heavy, so passengers should allow plenty of time for journeys.

Combined unions spokesman Karl Andersen, of the National Distribution Union, said any inconvenience caused by the proposed work bans would be minor, and involved no risk to safety.

Most involved working to rule according to company policies, rather than any major withdrawal of labour.

"Our guys will be coming to work on Wednesday," Mr Andersen said.

"They are going to be locked out, so we are not going to be doing the disruption to the public - the company is."

Actions listed in the strike notice include working to rule, not operating a start button on electronic machines at the beginning of trips and taking 10 minutes between runs for "terminus duties" such as going to the toilet and doing stretching exercises recommended by the company nurse.

Mr Andersen acknowledged that a refusal by drivers running late to carry out the last trip of a roster could cause some disruption, but said that would be minor compared with the company's response.

The company says the drivers are not facing economic reality in refusing pay rises amounting to 9.9 per cent by the final stage of a three-year deal.

But the unions describe their claim for an average 4.2 per cent for a one-year agreement as a reasonable demand that works out at about 70c an hour increase on rates ranging from $14.05 to $16.75.

* For information about skeleton bus services, visit www.maxx.co.nz or phone (09) 366-6400 or 0800-10-30-80