The Irish Congress of Trade Unions is expected to instruct one of its main affiliated unions to hand back 120 train drivers to SIPTU and the National Bus and Railworkers' Union today.
Last summer the dissident train drivers were involved in an unsuccessful 10-week strike to obtain recognition for the Irish Locomotive Drivers' Association and there are fears that today's decision by ICTU could cause a backlash from ILDA militants.
Last month, train drivers resumed industrial action when Iarnrod Eireann refused to recognise their right to be represented by the Amalgamated Transport and General Workers Union, instead of SIPTU and the National Bus and Railworkers' Union, which they had left in 1998. The strike was called off after the intervention of the National Implementation Body.
The NIB proposed disciplinary issues involving ILDA members and the company be referred to the Labour Court, while ICTU was to investigate the inter-union row. The Labour Court deliberations are still in progress but the ICTU subcommittee set up to investigate the dispute is to report to this morning's meeting of the congress executive.
It had held off concluding its investigation to allow SIPTU and the ATGWU to try to resolve their differences in direct talks. These talks have failed and the ICTU subcommittee completed its deliberations yesterday. It is expected to recommend to this morning's meeting of the ICTU executive that the ATGWU desist from its efforts to represent train drivers.
If the ATGWU refuses, it could face suspension from the ICTU. It is thought unlikely to defy congress. The outcome could also undermine the drivers' attempt to win recognition through the Labour Court hearings into disciplinary issues.
Ultimately, ILDA members would then have to decide whether to resume industrial action in a renewed attempt to win recognition, rejoin their old unions or remain outside recognised structures.