Luas strikes would do ‘huge damage,’ says Donohoe

Minister for Transport Paschal Donohoe has pleaded with Luas drivers not to do "huge damage" to the company by engaging in an upcoming series of strikes.

Siptu, which represents the majority of Luas workers, announced last month strikes will go ahead on Thursday, February 11th and Friday, February 12th.

The strikes are also planed to go ahead on the following Thursday and Friday as part of an escalating row over pay and conditions.

As the stoppages loom closer, the Minister said it is “really important” the proposed industrial action did not go ahead in order to avoid disruption for thousands of commuters.

“The Luas is so important to keeping our city going, to allowing people get in and out of work, and for a strike like this to happen for the number of days that are proposed would do huge damage to the ability of people to commute and also huge damage to the Luas itself,” he said.

He said talks are ongoing between unions and management in a bid to avert the strikes, which were balloted for by all levels of Luas employees after the company refused to implement pay increases of between 23 per cent and 50 per cent.

Siptu said the pay increases would bring the light rail workers in line with those at Iarnród Éireann.

"Engagement has taken place at the Workplace Relations Commission between the unions who are involved in representing Luas workers and also their employers," Mr Donohoe said.

“I believe it’s imperative that engagement and negotiation continues in the coming days because a Luas strike would cause immense disruption to the tens of thousands of commuters who depend on the Luas every day to get into our city.”

The Minister was speaking at the launch of the National Civil Aviation Development Forum, which will bring together representatives from Irish airlines, aircraft leasing companies, airports and various Government parties to discuss strategy for the €4 billion sector.

Mr Donohoe declined to elaborate on reports that cracks are appearing in the vote transfer pact agreed between his party and Labour, but said it would be "premature" to discuss Labour as a potential coalition partner for the next government.

He added reports concerning a high-level dispute between Fine Gael and Labour over the timing of the election are "all part and parcel" of the build-up, and said he expects an announcement on the polling date to be made in the coming days.