Major disruption to Dublin bus services this weekend has been averted following talks at the Labour Relations Commission.
The National Bus and Rail Union (NBRU) said this afternoon it had called off a planned one-day stoppage on Saturday following the successful outcome of talks between unions and Dublin Bus at the LRC.
Siptu also said the threatened an all-out strike by its drivers from Sunday would not now proceed.
In a statement, Siptu branch organiser Willie Noone said: “The action by our members has been deferred after the company agreed to enter direct talks with us under the auspices of the LRC over its cost cutting plan.
“The company has also agreed not to implement threatened job cuts and this has helped create a space within which talks can take place.”
NBRU general secretary Michael Faherty said: “We outlined our opposition to the Commission in relation to the sacking of 160 drivers on Saturday and reiterated our position that voluntary severance should be made available to senior drivers instead.
“The LRC then issued a proposal which included agreement that voluntary severance would form part of future negotiations and asked both parties to suspend any action or actions for a period of one week.
“This includes the suspension of the sacking of 160 drivers.
“The week will be used by all parties, under the auspices of the LRC, to engage in intensive discussions on the company’s cost effectiveness plan. In the light of this the NBRU has decided to suspend the strike action planned for Saturday.”
Labour Party transport spokesman Tommy Broughan said the chance to reach a negotiated settlement to the issues at the heart of the dispute must not be lost by either the two bus companies or Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey.
"The plan to cut up to 600 jobs and 400 buses at Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann makes little sense at a time when we need to further develop our public transport system and when there are already so many out of work. Every job lost costs the state an additional €20,000 per annum through additional social welfare payments and loss of tax revenue.
"The loss of the 600 jobs would cost the state another €12 million per annum at a time when public finances are already in crisis. It simply makes no sense and we support the efforts of the workers to preserve the maximum possible number of jobs."