The ongoing dispute between Waikato bus drivers and their employer continues, this time with Go Bus pushing back against its workers.
The company announced through a press release today that from 5am tomorrow, union-member employees will not be able to access their place of work nor will they be paid. The lock-out comes on the same day drivers had planned to begin a pay protest in which they would refuse to collect fares from passengers.
The strong response by the iwi-owned company has incensed FIRST Union, which had helped plan the protest.
“Locking out low wage bus drivers and depriving them of income just weeks before Christmas is shocking and it’s not something we would expect to see from even the worst employer," says FIRST Union divisional secretary Jared Abbott. "The values at play here are appalling.”
The dispute between Go Bus and its drivers in Hamilton, Te, Awamutu and Otorohanga has dragged out since March 2017.
The union says bus drivers agreed to the free fare protest to drive home the message to their employer and to the district council, which engages Go Bus, that drivers can’t continue on such abysmal wages. It was intended as a way to make their voices heard without punishing passengers by going on strike, the union says.
However, Go Bus argues the lock-out, which it says is indefinite until drivers drop their claim for a living wage, is intended to "protect employees".
“Providing a safe workspace is paramount," Chief Operating Officer Nigel Piper says. "The majority of drivers are non-union members, but the decision from FIRST Union members to not collect fares puts all other drivers at risk of verbal abuse and physical assault if passengers think they are going to get a free ride, and don’t.
“Furthermore, Go Bus is contracted to provide bus services in the region and collecting fares is part of that contract, therefore we must act," he says.
Mr Abbott has hit back, saying “low wages cause harm, and right now drivers cannot live off these wages".
"All they’re asking for is the living wage so they can afford to live, and the company has responded by locking them out. This reinforces the complete inability of Go Bus to realise the reality of the situation. The actions of Go Bus are inhumane.”
Go Bus will work with the regional council to provide an amended timetable utilising a reduced number of drivers. This timetable will be published on the Council’s Busit web page, and a summary will be available on the Busit Facebook page as well. This timetable will be in place until further notice.
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