Tens of thousands of Auckland commuters had to find alternative transport to work today as most of the bus services were suspended.
The lockout by NZ Bus began at 4am after nearly 1000 bus drivers from four separate unions issued a work to rule from today in an ongoing pay dispute.
NZ Bus general manager operations Zane Fulljames announced yesterday that all Go West, Waka Pacific, Link and City Circuit services would be suspended for the day.
"We apologise sincerely to our customers. This is not a course of action we have taken lightly."
Combined unions' spokesman Gary Froggatt said yesterday the NZ Bus response to the work to rule notice was to be expected.
"The drivers are willing to turn up and drive the buses, but we're not going to speed, not going to break the rules, we're just going to follow the company rules as per laid down," he said.
"The company is now saying that their rules and regulations are unworkable."
Mr Froggatt said the drivers were not responsible for the inconvenience to commuters.
"The company's locking out the drivers, so therefore they are locking out the passengers. The drivers are not doing that." Auckland Regional Council said yesterday they would pursue punitive financial sanctions against NZ Bus for withdrawing its services.
Chairman Mike Lee said they would look to penalise the company for the disruption to the ratepayers.
The council subsidises the bus service and ratepayers should not have to pay for a service they were not receiving, he told Radio New Zealand.
Drivers, who earned between $14.05 and $16.75 an hour, have rejected increases of 4.2 percent, 3.0 percent and 3.3 percent over each of the next three years.
NZ Bus and the unions are due to meet later today with the Employment Relations Authority to decide whether another mediation process would begin.
