Crocodile tears from Labourites on Wellington bus drivers

Stuff reports:

Labour leader Andrew Little and Wellington Mayor Justin Lester have come out in support of Wellington bus drivers, as tensions continue over their proposed new bus contracts.

Meanwhile, the new operator says the pair have got it wrong, and insists drivers will be better off under the new deal.

Drivers across the region have staged strikes recently in an act of protest at the new contracts.

The stop-work meetings follow Greater Wellington Regional Council naming Masterton-based company Tranzit as the preferred bidder for the majority of Wellington’s bus services, in place of incumbent NZ Bus. …

In a video posted to Facebook page Thank You Driver,  Lester said Wellington

valued its bus drivers and it was important their future employment was secure.

“We want to make sure they’ve got good job security, and that they’re well paid. So let’s make sure we protect our bus drivers and let’s get a good outcome for all of Wellington.”

Little, a former union leader, posted a similar video to the page, in which he said drivers were facing a “major challenge” and accused local authorities of  using the contracting process to drive down drivers’ wages and conditions.