Public transport unions unite in protest

Auckland train and bus drivers have protested against low pay and job insecurity.

Drivers joined together to hand-deliver two petitions to Auckland Transport (AT) at the Viaduct on Friday.

The petitions, signed by about 10,000 passengers and public transport workers, protested the ‘‘degradation’’ of both bus and train services, unions said.

The first petition centred on AT’S proposal to replace train managers with transport officers a new role created in response to increased rail patronage, to boost passenger safety and better enforce fare payment.

It would result in 230 new officers gradually taking over from the current 168 managers.

AT spokesman Mark Hannan said the total on-board staff numbers would rise.

The second petition was presented by First Union bus driver members and voiced bus drivers’ concerns about wage cuts and job security.

Rail and Maritime Transport Union Auckland organiser Stuart Johnstone said the changes AT were proposing to Auckland’s rail network management were not in the best interests of passengers.

Train managers were the ‘‘happy face’’ of rail transport, and it would be detrimental to passengers if trains were to loose them, he said.

Auckland councillor Mike Lee said public transport workers were being treated unjustly by AT.

AT metro operations group manager Brendon Main said it was in a collective bargaining process regarding issues raised by the petitions.

‘‘We are wanting the organisation to keep talking and working through the issues,’’ Main said.

Provisions were being put in place to ease the impact of replacing train managers, he said.

‘‘We are doing everything we can to try and smooth the transition for train managers to apply for transport officer roles.’’

In February 2016 Auckland came to a standstill when more than 1000 bus drivers took industrial action.

Nearly 100,000 commuters were impacted, with many needing to find alternative transport.

Instead of being on duty, bus drivers picketed bus depots as they protested for pay rises and better breaks between shifts.

The strike impacted Metrolink, North Star, Go West, City LINK and Outer LINK bus services.