Hamilton-based bus company Go Bus is rejecting union claims drivers have been asked to drive old and faulty buses.
Around 120 GoBus drivers are on a one-day strike that ends at midnight Photo: SUPPLIED
Around 120 Go Bus drivers are on strike over what they say are unfair pay and working conditions and unsafe buses. The strike from 5am to midnight affects Hamilton city and Te Awamutu and Otorohanga school bus services.
The dispute will go to mediation on Friday, and further strikes planned for this week have been cancelled for now, First Union said.
Jared Abbott from First Union told Morning Report because the company lost a tender in Tauranga it was avoiding doing proper maintenance or repairs until the end of the year.
"What they're doing is the bare minimum - what you'd call a botch job - just to try and get it through to the end of the year without really putting any investment into it."
"We're seeking a living wage for our bus drivers - we're not ashamed of that."- Jared Abbott
He said there had been complaints from drivers about seats and steering wheels not being adjustable and lack of air conditioning.
But Go Bus chief operating officer Nigel Piper said the bus fleet was safe and the company had a robust maintenance system.
"Our buses are independently checked through VTNZ, they're totally up to COF [certificate of fitness] standard.
"We have random inspections by the police from time to time - they have not found any issues with our buses."
Mr Piper said they were recently inspected by the Transport Agency after a union complaint and received a clean bill of health.
"Our bus fleet is entirely safe"- Nigel Piper
The average age of buses in the urban Hamilton fleet was less than six years, he said.
He said Go Bus had a robust computerised management system for maintenace and the company immediately looked at any incidents that are reported.
"We don't take risks with our drivers or our passengers."
Living wage
Mr Abbot said drivers were being paid around $17 an hour and had split shifts with big unpaid gaps in the middle of the day.
"We're seeking a living wage for our bus drivers - we're not ashamed of that."
But Mr Piper said they were paid from $18 to $19.46 an hour, and received time and a half for Sundays.
The company's offer was from $19 to $19.75, and followed an increase paid in March.
"The living wage is more than something Go Bus can deal with. It's an issue that's for all the parties in the industry, [and] for central and local government, who are our funders."
Mr Piper would not reveal Go Bus's profits in the last financial year, citing commercial sensitivity, however he said the company's funding was fixed, unlike other retailers which can put prices up.
Passengers can check [www.busit.co.nz the Busit website] to see if their service will be affected.