NZ Bus rejects free rides

New Zealand Bus has rejected an offer by bus drivers to take Auckland children to school for free when the new term starts tomorrow.

The drivers have been locked out since Thursday morning after issuing a work-to-rule notice in support of their long-running pay dispute.

The four unions, representing about 900 drivers, offered to carry children to school for free to ease disruption on the roads when the new school term starts.

But NZ Bus said it was up to the unions to withdraw their threat of industrial action before it was ready to lift the lockout.