Bus union to go ahead with strike over cuts

A NATIONAL bus strike is looming from next Monday after the National Bus and Rail Union (NBRU) issued strike notice over planned cutbacks at Bus Éireann.

The union said it was reactivating an existing mandate for industrial action following a breakdown in talks on the company’s plan to lay off 320 staff, including 220 drivers, and cut routes.

Bus Éireann is losing €500,000 a week after passenger numbers dropped by 10 per cent. Last month, it entered talks with its unions on plans to save €30 million by cutting services and shedding staff.

However, these talks failed to reach agreement before the deadline set by the company of last Friday expired. Management now plans to go ahead with a phased introduction of the cutbacks, starting next Monday with changes to terms and conditions, overtime and shift allowances for staff. It plans to introduce changes on 50 routes from next month.

“The company has left us with no alternative given management’s decision to terminate the process without even attempting to enter meaningful negotiations,” said NBRU assistant general secretary Dermot O’Leary.

Siptu, which also represents bus drivers at the company, has warned management that it will ballot for industrial action if the changes go ahead next week.

Among the issues on which agreement was not reached were the terms of a severance package for older drivers, the status of 80 probationary drivers, and service levels for customers. Mr O’Leary said he accepted the company was in crisis but claimed the cutbacks were a “panic reaction”.

A Bus Éireann spokesman said any industrial action would greatly inconvenience passengers and increase the company’s losses.

Meanwhile Siptu members at DHL have voted overwhelmingly in favour of a redundancy package negotiated with the company. Workers will get six weeks pay a year of service, inclusive of statutory entitlements.

Employees also have the option of becoming service partners with DHL in locations where depots are closing, such as Athlone, Cavan, Enniscorthy, Galway, Sligo, Tralee and Waterford.