Stagecoach drivers stop on Sunday for pay vote

Stagecoach's Auckland bus drivers will stop work at 4pm tomorrow to vote on a pay deal which has finally won endorsement from union negotiators.

The meeting time was agreed by the unions and company to minimise inconvenience to the public.

The four combined unions representing about 900 drivers have agreed to recommend acceptance of a company offer of $16 an hour now, with a before-tax payment of $1300 in lieu of seven months' backpay, and a second wage rise of 20c an hour next year.

This is understood to be on condition that the drivers accept an increase in ordinary-time working hours, from 40 to 45 a week, before overtime is paid at time-and-a-quarter compared with the existing rate of time-and-a-half.

Although the drivers have been battling for $16 since November, staging two strikes, including a six-day stoppage last month, a minority who work up to 20 hours' overtime a week remained concerned about the impact of the clawback on their pay packets.

The unions have held secret ballots in the past week, returning to negotiations on Wednesday in a bid for minor improvements to the offer.

Stagecoach, meanwhile, hopes to run some buses during the meeting. Would-be passengers are advised to check its website on Sunday, at www.stagecoach.co.nz (link below), or to phone (09) 366-6400 for bus information.