Council supports higher bus driver pay

Higher driver pay will now be an important consideration when BOPRC assigns their bus contracts. File photo.

Companies tendering for bus contracts from the Bay of Plenty Regional Council will now be viewed more favourably if they make a commitment to higher driver pay.

First Union, the union representing many bus drivers in the Bay of Plenty, is applauding the move.

'Our members are stoked,” says First Union spokesperson Lauren Usher.

'Under the old model the companies cutting pay were often the companies winning the contracts. When Go Bus won the tender for public bus services in parts of the Bay back in 2008 drivers' pay went from $16.50 per hour to $14.27 per hour. For many drivers it took until 2017 for wages to reach $16.50 again.”

She say the council's decision means bus companies now have an incentive to not only maintain drivers' wages, but to actually lift them.

'This is a great step forward,” says Lauren.

'Bus companies should find cost-savings with things like better fuel efficiency. Cutting wages isn't an appropriate form of cost-saving, and now the Bay of Plenty Regional Council has made that clear.

'Our members are thanking the Bay of Plenty Regional Council and calling on other councils other the country to follow their example.”

BOPRC transport policy manager Garry Maloney says the council has gone to tender for Western Bay of Plenty bus services and has given extensive consideration to various inclusions in those tender documents.

'One of those considerations is around driver pay, whereby tenderers who make a commitment to higher driver pay will receive a better evaluation on this factor during the tender process,” he says.

'Other elements, such as fleet capacity and capability, innovation, customer service and price, remain critical factors in the tender process, but we have made the decision to specifically acknowledge driver pay as well.”

He says the decision has come about as a result of feedback from a range of different community stakeholders, as well as council discussions.

'We believe it is an appropriate time to include this specification. Our focus with public transport is ensuring the efficient delivery of the services for which we are responsible, budgetary considerations, our responsibility for the careful use of ratepayer investment, value for money, and acknowledging the significant contribution of our employees and contractors.”

For bus drivers, the process of securing higher wages has been a lengthy one. Earlier this year they initiated stop work action during negotiations with Go Bus, and later took to the streets to gain signatures from the public for a petition supporting higher pay.

This petition was presented to BOPRC in September by Allan Mathews, who told SunLive drivers were pushing for a ‘living' wage.

'An eight-hour day with payment of $17.10 gross per hour would leave the average person with nothing at week's end, except the very tempting and particularly evil blandishments of the pay-day loan sharks.”

The following month, bus drivers received some good news from Go Bus, when they were given an almost seven per cent pay rise.

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2 comments

Its just so wonderful ...

Posted on 15-12-2017 11:04 | By MISS ADVENTURE

Spending someone else's money on something for reasons unknown. There will be consequences that these same officials will lap up like feverish little puppies on a hot day ... to keep pay parity. All it means is that rate are sure to rise sooner or later by a significiant margin.


Reasons Unknown !!!

Posted on 15-12-2017 22:13 | By waiknot

Allowing bus drivers to earn a modest living. If there is one reason to increase rates providing an income that is not exploitive would be it.


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