Auckland bus strike off

A planned strike by NZ Bus drivers has been called off after NZ Bus caved in.

A deal was struck by NZ Bus, the Tramways Union and First Union today, which will make NZ Bus drivers amongst the highest paid in the industry.

On Thursday, NZ Bus chief operating officer Shane McMahon said drivers would be offered a $20.40-an-hour pay rate, starting in December 2014, for an agreement which would expire in July 2015.

Figures were kept out of this afternoon's statement because they are yet to be ratified by union members, NZ Bus marketing man Rajeev Jadoo says.

Auckland Transport says the LINK, Metrolink, North Star, Go West and Waka Pacific services will operate as normal this Monday and future strike action has also been cancelled.

NZ Bus chief operating officer Shane McMahon says in a statement the company is delighted agreement has been reached.

Gary Froggatt, of the Tramways Union says: “We welcome this development and are pleased that the buses will be on the road to carry the travelling public this Monday.”

Earlier, Auckland Transport had advised which NZ Bus services are cancelled because of Monday's bus drivers' strike.

In a statement, it says services on Metrolink, North Star, Go West, Waka Pacific and all Link services –  including school runs operated under those banners – will not operate.

"Auckland Transport expects all transport services operating on Monday will be busy and asks commuters to be patient as increased congestion and delays on services may occur," the statement says.

All other bus operators including Ritchies, Northern Express, Birkenhead Transport, Bayes, Howick and Eastern, Murphy Buses, Urban Express, Waiheke Island Buses, Tranzit, Airbus Express services and their school bus services will run as usual, as well as train and ferry services.

Limited additional bus and ferry services will be available, it says, while suggesting commuters carpool, cycle or walk to their destination.

Last night the combined bus unions said they would meet NZ Bus, but it would not lift the strike notice before the proposed talks.