Auckland bus drivers, with the support of the National Distribution Union, had been planning a "Work to rule" strike¹ to support their rejection of a pay offer made by employers NZ Bus a.k.a Infratil (parent company). NZ Bus is New Zealand largest public transport company, owning bus fleets in several major centres, and in 2008 had an estimated income of 195 million dollars from fares and contracts alone, up from $180M in 2007².

In response to the demands of the workers, instead of going to mediation NZ Bus today announced that as of 4am on Thurday 8 October (30 mins before the "Work to rule" was scheduled to begin), the drivers will be locked out. The 900 workers who supported the demands laid by the NDU will be unable to drive their routes, upsetting the routine of thousands of Aucklanders who ride the buses to work and school.

By FEILIDH O'DWYER - Stuff.co.nz 
06/10/2009 

Auckland bus drivers will be locked out by their employer NZ Bus on Thursday morning, potentially affecting tens of thousands of Auckland commuters. 

National Distribution Union Spokesman Karl Andersen, who has negotiated on behalf of bus drivers, said: "NZ Bus has advised us that they are going to lock us out so there's no longer a strike. They are going to lock out at 4am on Thursday morning."

He said at this point there was not a lot the bus drivers could do.

"If they're locked out, they're locked out."

Mr Andersen said protest action by drivers was possible "but we haven't determined that yet. They'll [bus drivers] turn up for work and they'll be locked out.

"NZ Bus is effectively locking out the Auckland bus passengers."

He said the union's strike action would have caused minimal disruption.

"We would have kept services going, but NZ Bus has brought out the sledgehammer and they're effectively going to lock out all the drivers and lock out all the passengers."

In September bus drivers overwhelmingly rejected an offer by NZ Bus for a 9.9 percent pay increase over three years.

The drivers are seeking an increase of 6.8 percent this year, taking the starting wage from $14.05 to $15 an hour, the union said.

Presently, the pay rate climbs to $15.30 after three months employment before peaking at $16.75 after nine months of service.

Last month NZ Bus operations manager Zane Fulljames said a lockout had been put in place as the company could not operate safely or reliably if the workers were working to rule.

Mr Andersen said he did not see the issue being resolved in the near future. "It's a big, big question. I don't know where we go."

"A liveable wage would be good," he said.