Due to the current Government rewinding to the old draconian legislation around Rest & Meal breaks, the Bus industry has been tipped into turmoil to achieve compliance.
The new rules mean breaks cannot be compensated. This flies in the face of current practice of bus drivers who can drive for up to 5.5 hours. Auckland Transport are quoted to having to cancel 39 services so far. Having such frequent rest breaks will mean a requirement to hire more driving staff in an industry which is struggling to pay staff much more than the minimum wage.
In averting a potential operational disaster the industry has been granted a 12 month suspension of enforcement from the Government with a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to come up with a workable solution. This involves the Unions, Councils and bus operators nationwide.
The Unions are now understandably voicing their concerns already since the signing of the MOU everything has apparently gone quiet and the concern being in twelve months' time everyone is in exactly the same position.