No winners if bus strike action goes ahead - NZ Bus

NZ Bus says there'll be no winners if its bus drivers go ahead with Monday's planned strike action in Auckland.

The company will meet with unions today to discuss its last pay offer and look to see if there are other areas they can make changes.

NZ Bus chief operating officer Shane McMahon says strike action is a backward step and he hopes the meeting will stop it going ahead.

"It's obviously a long shot and it is 11th hour stuff."

Mr McMahon says they've asked unions to lift strike action so they can get back around the table and try to resolve matters.

"When we met with the unions last week we tabled our best offer in an attempt to avoid industrial action that was planned for Monday just gone. That offer would have seen drivers the highest paid in Auckland, earning $20 an hour next year."

He says it's been a constructive dialogue in negotiations so far, but strike action will change the dynamic considerably.

"There will be no winners from Monday's strike action. A lot of the gains that the unions have fought hard to win for their members will be lost with strike action. There's a huge inconvenience on the travelling public and there will be a cost for the company as well."

NZ Bus has made a request to the unions to at least cover school bus services on Monday if plans to strike continue.

Photo: NZ Herald