Bus drivers tipped to be first in line for a FPA

but drivers often had to work a three-to-five hour shift in the morning and a similar shift in the evening, with a four-hour gap in the middle for which they were only paid a total of $5 or $6, he said.

Workers from a variety of industries are queueing up for support from the Council of Trade Unions (CTU), which from December will be able to use the Fair Pay law to help workers negotiate improved minimum pay and conditions from their employers.

The CTU is in line to receive $750,000 from the Government over three years to raise awareness and help negotiate Fair Pay Agreements, according to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.

CTU president Richard Wagstaff has signalled that early childhood teachers, cleaners, security guards and supermarket and forestry workers are likely to be near the front of the union queue.

But it is understood bus drivers are likely to be selected as the first group to receive CTU support for a Fair Pay Agreement.

That is partly because there are high hopes an agreement could be negotiated with bus operators without unions having to resort to the backstop of requesting the Employment Relations Authority step in and set minimum pay and conditions – which is what would need to happen if negotiations with employers broke down.