Dublin Bus: Planned two-day strike action called off

Rolling dispute: Intensive talks set to begin on Tuesday in pursuit of elusive resolution

The planned 48-hour strike which would have brought Dublin Bus services to a standstill again on Tuesday and Wednesday has been deferred.

However, a strike due to take place on Saturday – the day of the All-Ireland senior football final replay between Dublin and Mayo – is still scheduled to go ahead as of now.

Intensive talks aimed at resolving the dispute over pay at Dublin Bus will commence on Tuesday.

Siptu divisional organiser Owen Reidy said the Workplace Relations Commission was very clear that after meeting separately with both sides that there was "scope to make progress".

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“We have a couple of days to try and fix this but the other dates (for strike action) which the unions have put in the diary remain, starting from next Saturday,” he said.

He said it was the earnest wish if the trade unions that they did not have to invoke their mandate for further strikes.

NBRU General Secretary Dermot O’Leary said: “In agreeing to suspend our member’s industrial action we are placing our trust in the WRC and its assessment, following its separate exploratory discussions with Dublin Bus, that significant progress can be achieved over the next number of days in order to find a resolution to this dispute.”

“The onus is now very much on Dublin Bus to come to the negotiating table and step up to the plate to go significantly beyond what has already been rejected by all of the staff and work with the trade unions towards achieving a satisfactory resolution of this dispute, falling short is simply not an option for commuters and staff alike.”

Martin Wall

Martin Wall

Martin Wall is the former Washington Correspondent of The Irish Times. He was previously industry correspondent