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Auckland bus drivers have today voted to reject the latest offer from NZ Bus for the renewal of their collective agreement.
It comes as bus drivers were preparing to pick up their keys again after a morning strike.
Two unions took part in the member meeting, which was called over an on-going pay dispute, and saw 517 of 818 union drivers attend.
All Metrolink, North Star, Go West, Waka Pacific and Link services were not in operation between 10am and 2pm today.
The unions - Tramways and First Union - met with NZ Bus after a settlement over pay and conditions was proposed following a meeting last Wednesday.
This afternoon, spokesman for the combined bus unions, Karl Anderson, said the workers believe they are undervalued by the company and deserve to paid better.
"Bus drivers are working split shifts and long hours and want to have sufficient wages at the end of the working week to have a decent life," he said.
"While the offer put to workers today was an improvement from the company, it did not meet union members' expectations and needs to improve."
Andersen said drivers at today's member meeting said they were not earning enough to pay their bills and give their families a decent standard of living, and the delayed implementation of pay increases offered by the company prolonged this hardship.
"Drivers are also concerned about changes to their rosters that the company has introduced in the last couple of weeks," Karl Andersen said.
The unions have notified the company of the vote to reject their offer and have told them they are keen to get back into negotiations as soon as possible, he said.
Members have voted to take industrial action to support an improved claim, Karl Andersen said.
NZ Bus described the decision to reject the pay offer as "bizarre".
"We managed to have the unions lift full blown strike action by giving them what they asked for in order to prevent impact on customers, and today they turn around and reject an offer the union executive endorsed," Shane McMahon, NZ Bus chief executive said.
"Negotiating with this group is a bit like Groundhog Day, it's hugely frustrating.
"We worked very hard to see their point of view, worked constructively with them and reached agreement which they endorsed and then they vote it down."
Anderson said a series of work-to-rule and Monday stoppages will start later this week, possibly Thursday or Friday.