Auckland bus drivers’ strike escalates – free fare day for passengers
Union members at Howick and Eastern Buses, the bus provider for much of East Auckland, will be refusing to take cash or hop card fares on Thursday (17 March) meaning a free ride for some passengers.
The action is part of an ongoing dispute over overtime and weekend rates at the East Auckland bus provider.
“Drivers are fed up with the company’s repeated attempts to remove overtime and weekend rates,” says FIRST Union organiser Rudd Hughes.
“Drivers often have to work over and above their rostered shifts and they deserve to be paid for the time that they lose with their families and friends.”
As part of the strike action drivers will refuse to handle cash, refuse to operate the Bus Drivers’ Console (meaning hop card readers will be inactive), and refuse to fuel buses. Passengers will be allowed to travel for free on Thursday only.
“The public backs the bus drivers’ right to be paid for when they run overtime or have to work weekends. People know that’s the fair thing to do,” says Hughes.
