7 Oct 2008

Bus drivers vote to accept pay deal

7:30 pm on 7 October 2008

Wellington bus drivers have voted in favour of a new pay deal.

A stop work meeting to consider an offer by bus operator Go Wellington halted services in the capital earlier on Tuesday.

The offer was put together last week by Go Wellington, the Tramways Union and the Manufacturing and Construction Workers Union. It was ratified on Tuedsday.

Secretary of the Tramways Union Kevin O'Sullivan says a vote of 160 to 80 ratified a 7.5% pay increase, backdated to May.

Mr O'Sullivan says the agreement also offers a 3.5% pay rise from May next year, plus a one-off payment of $300.

The deal expires in March 2010.