Bus drivers pull ‘sickies’ near end of contracts

Bus drivers using up sick leave before their contracts end later this year is believed to be contributing to a recent increase in cancelled bus services across the Wellington region.

Greater Wellington Regional Council said last week that up to 20 services a day were being cancelled across the Metlink network because of ‘‘unexpected absences’’ among drivers.

An average day usually sees about five to seven services cancelled.

Drivers’ contracts will end in June or July. The Tramways Union, which represents them, is refusing to accept new contracts being offered by incoming operator Tranzit.

It is understood some healthy drivers are taking sick leave, which will not be paid out to them, before their contracts run out.

Tramways Union secretary Kevin O’Sullivan was not aware of ‘‘excessive’’ sick leave being taken but he said if it was, the regional council was to blame.

‘‘If it is happening, I’d suggest it’s because of the undue stress the regional council has caused these people by the way in which they’ve gone about destroying a very good public transport system.’’

Masterton-based Tranzit will operate 60 per cent of the region’s bus services from July.

The company and the union have been in disagreement over the new contracts for some time, and the union is threatening widespread industrial action if the dispute is not settled, which would cause ‘‘chaos’’ across Wellington.

O’Sullivan reiterated that threat yesterday: ‘‘They’re saying there are 15 trips a day cancelled now. Well in June [and] July, 1500 trips are going to be missing.’’

The new contracts will take effect in the Hutt Valley in June, and in Wellington and Porirua in July.

The union said the contracts would result in lower pay for drivers because of the loss of penal rates and an increased rate for longer days.

Tranzit said drivers would be better off under its new contracts, with hourly rates to increase from between $18.65 and $19.35 to $22 an hour.

Newlands Coach Services chief executive Ian Turner did not return calls yesterday, while NZ Bus – which is set to lose most of its contracts from July – is continuing to ignore media queries.

Turner did say last week that services were being cancelled ‘‘due to shortage of staff, and sickness’’.

A Greater Wellington Regional Council spokesman said the organisation could not comment on matters such as sick leave because it did not employ drivers. He acknowledged a driver shortage was impacting on bus services and apologised to affected commuters.

The new contracts would provide a more connected and efficient public transport network, which would take people to more places, he added.