There will be no GO Wellington bus services leaving from the Wellington Rail Station or from Karori Terminus between the hours of 7.30am and 8.30am on Wednesday, 24 September. This includes 23 school buses.
The Tramways Union has advised GO Wellington that it intends to take strike action during this peak commuter period, and that this will continue until further notice.
Under the Employment Relations Act the provision of public transport is not considered to be an essential service. Therefore, there is no facility to be able to give customers 14 days notice of industrial action.
"We are extremely disappointed to find our customers in this situation after three long months of negotiations," says Bruce Kenyon, GM GO Wellington. "We are also surprised and disappointed with the move to industrial action given the constructive and conciliatory nature of the negotiations to date."
"We will be communicating with our people and with the union throughout the day to try to avert industrial action. We have no desire to see industrial activiity impact our customers."
After three months of negotiation, GO Wellington's offer includes a 7 per cent pay increase in the first year and a $250 gross cash payment.
- It is well above the cost of living, which is sitting at 4 per cent.
- It is also well above the average 3.5 per cent settlements reached by other industries undertaking collective employment agreement negotiations in New Zealand today.
"We value our people and this is a substantial offer," says Mr Kenyon. "Our focus is now on our customers. We know and understand the inconvenience and disruption this causes them. We apologise unreservedly for that and our full attention will be on providing them with as much information as we are able."
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For further information, please contact:
Siobhan O'Donovan, Communications Manager
021 840 839