Industrial action sees 'March Madness' hit Auckland early

From Checkpoint, 5:38 pm on 26 February 2018

Train staff are refusing to work overtime in protest at plans to do away with train managers and operate driver-only trains, leading to delays and packed carriages today.

The action - which is set to last for three weeks - coincides with the start of the busiest period for public transport and cars as students return to university.

Trains will run every 20 minutes instead of every 10 at peak times.

Commuters waiting at Newmarket Station today were frustrated with delays.

"I'm going to be late and I've had a message from a co-worker who said two full trains went past him at Ellerslie so I'm not sure how long it's going to take," a woman said.

Another commuter said she would try get an earlier train tomorrow but was worried everyone else would have the same idea.

Auckland Transport's rail services manager Craig Inger said there was also a handful of people at Orakei station who had to wait for the next train because of a full Eastern line service.

But he thought Auckland Transport got a pass mark for its handling of rush hour this morning.

Lessons learnt today would be put in place tomorrow, he said, but at least the 20 minute services should provide clarity for people.

The Rail and Maritime Union organiser John Kerr said the move to get rid of train managers who settle disputes on trains and open and close doors will make it unsafe for passengers.

Transdev and Auckland Transport want train drivers to control the doors and employ train officers who will come on and off trains to manage issues.

Train drivers were refusing to work over their 80-hours a fortnight until the matter was settled, Mr Kerr said.

"We never anticipated this would have the impact that it has, we issued notice of the overtime ban on Saturday afternoon and within an hour, Auckland Transport published the renewed timetable - that was a big surprise to us."

Mr Kerr said the union would meet with the train operator, Transdev, on Wednesday and depending on the outcome, it had a few options up its sleeve.

"We'll quite happily lift the overtime ban, but if that's not the case we have the mandate to strike which will cause the whole network to stop so we will consider that."

The ideal outcome would be to negotiate a two-year collective agreement to keep train managers and discuss how to work through safety concerns, he said.

Auckland Transport said there were 4500 more seats on buses today.