NZ Bus may end lock-out

Auckland's bus services could be back to normal on Thursday.

But that will depend on whether NZ Bus, which operates most bus services in Auckland, ends its lock-out of about 900 drivers and the unions representing the drivers lift their strike notice.

The lockout began last Thursday after drivers said they would work strictly to rule in support of their wage claim.

NZ Bus and the coalition of four unions that make up the Auckland Combined Unions have been in facilitation with the Employment Relations Authority in order to resolve a long standing pay dispute.

Facilitation continued throughout today in an effort to resolve the dispute. The Auckland Combined Unions represent the bus drivers and cleaners who work for Metrolink, North Star, Go West, Waka Pacific, LINK and City Circuit bus services.

NZ Bus operations manager Zane Fulljames said the facilitator had been in discussions with both parties and today had outlined a basis on which he considered a settlement could be reached.

"We are committed to the facilitation process and consider both parties should seize this opportunity to reach a settlement," he said.

Union negotiators will meet their members at 11am tomorrow to discuss developments.

Mr Fulljames said that as a gesture of goodwill the company would lift the lock-out notice and resume all normal services, with effect from 4am on Thursday.

"This is on the proviso that by 1.30pm tomorrow the unions also lift their strike notice and agree to work with the facilitator to reach a ratified settlement.

"We have confidence in the facilitation process, and trust that the unions will join with us to get our buses back on the roads," Mr Fulljames said.

Unions spokesman Karl Andersen said there was nothing new in the offer by NZ Bus to lift the lockout provided the strike notice was lifted.

He could not discuss what went on during facilitation today, but said it would be considered tomorrow.

"We will take the recommendations from facilitation ... to a meeting and will vote on whether to accept," Mr Andersen said.

Meanwhile, the Auckland Regional Transport Authority (Arta) asked NZ Bus to provide proposals about how to resolve the dispute by 5pm today.

Mr Fulljames said the company had responded by outlining its preference for a facilitated outcome as opposed to one involving industrial action.

He said the company was waiting to see what Arta's response to that would be.

Arta chief executive Fergus Gammie said it rarely got involved in employment disputes, but the impact this one was having on Aucklanders was huge and it was vital a resolution was reached soon.

More than 80,000 commuters have had to find alternative transport to get to school or work since the lock-out began.

Tonight Auckland University students, who rely on buses to get to lectures, said the disruption was having a negative impact on their studies.

"University students are two weeks from the end of the second semester, and missing classes in this final period will directly affect preparation for the upcoming end of year exams," said Auckland University Students' Association president Darcy Peacock.