Bus service disrupted?

Press, 30 October 1981, Page 2

Bus service disrupted?

Christmas school holiday and tourist coach tours and suburban and long-distance passenger coach services could be disrupted next month unless, the award covering coach drivers is settled when talks resume in conciliation ‘council on November 27. ■ .

Coach drivers in the Canterbury area met at a 1 Vi-hour stop-work meeting yesterday and resolved to pursue their award claims and vote in a postal ballot on industrial action after a meeting on November 27 if the award is not settled then. The secretary of the Canterbury Drivers’ Union, Mr P. R. Liggett, said that the drivers sought a It) per cent wage increase in line with the general wage movement, plus further increases in pay in annual steps over the. next four years to regain relativity with drivers of buses covered by other awards or determinations. He said the difference was now 14 per cent, and so the annual steps would involve a movement of about 3Vi per cent each year. The drivers also want a change in their annual holiday provision. About 150 drivers in Canterbury-West-land are covered by the award.