Luas strike: Second day of action to go ahead on Friday

Luas staff will strike again on Friday affecting almost 100,000 Dublin commuters.

A further stoppage is scheduled for next Thursday and Friday with Siptu saying that Luas staff are prepared for a long and protracted dispute.

The strike centres on demands by staff for improved pay, terms and conditions.

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Commuters queue for a bus for the city centre as Luas drivers embark on a two-day strike in search of higher pay. Photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times

Owen Reidy, Siptu organiser, said that further industrial action on top of that already announced was inevitable if Luas operator Transdev did not come forward with meaningful proposals on pay. He also called for the company’s contract with the State to be re-examined.

People getting to work, school or college will have to find alternative transport until normal service resumes on Saturday at 6.30am.

A statement on the Luas website said Luas tickets “are not valid on services of other public transport” and Luas “is not providing an alternative transport service”.

Luas is advising customers to download the Transport for Ireland app for alternative travel options.

Siptu, the trade union that represents Luas staff, said staff were left with no alternative but to take strike action

Speaking at the picket line outside the Luas depot in Sandyford on Thursday, he said,“After 18 months the company just told them that (they could have increases) of no per cent or just linked to the consumer price index.

“It is regrettable that it came to this and action had to be taken but the company and Transport Infrastructure Ireland have to take some responsibility.”

Luas staff are seeking pay increases of between 8 and 53 per cent, claims which have raised eyebrows across the industrial relations and political worlds.

Pay movements in the private sector range from 2 to 3 per cent on average.

Mr Reidy said on Thursday morning that the union and workers wanted to negotiate and were flexible.

He told RTÉ’s Morning Ireland that the 53 per cent figure was a headline figure, and an attractive figure for the company to refer to and for the media report.

“We are prepared to be flexible and negotiate. The top end figure is 53 per cent but it is over five years. This is a company where there has been one pay increase in the past six years of 2.5 per cent,” he said.

He said workers deserved to be rewarded as the company had grown by 30 per cent through the recession.

“All we are seeking is that the workers have the opportunity to share in the success of the operation,” he said.

Mr Reidy said the pay scale for Luas drivers ranged from € 32,000 to € 42,000.

Gerry Madden, managing director of Transdev, apologised to customers on behalf of the company.

He said that any “reasonable” pay claim would be looked at and that he was eager to find a resolution.

“We are very happy to put on record yet again that we will enter into serious negotiations. We are looking at meeting them as soon as they have modified their pay claim.

“We need to stop now having digs at each other and to find a resolution. I have indicated based on research that you would land at somewhere between 1 and 3 per cent increase.”

Mr Madden said no other company in Ireland had faced pay demands of this kind. “What company can afford it? We have engaged and tried very hard,” he said.

“We have looked in Europe and we cannot find a light rail driver on the same salary as Luas drivers. They are very well paid and we want to resolve this,” he said.

Minister for Transport Paschal Donohue has urged further talks but said the Government “could not produce money” to resolve the strike.

ISME, the Irish Small and Medium Enterprises Association, has called for further talks to stop the disruption to employees, customers and general public.

“The brunt of any loss will be borne by the business community, as another negative message is sent worldwide about Ireland,” Mark Field, the chief executive of the association, said.

Commuters have had mixed feeling about the dispute with most having to get up hours earlier to find alternative ways to work.

Dan O’Neill said on Twitter: “Strikes may sometimes be inconvenient, but the right to strike is central to what it means to be a democracy.”

Many, who voiced their opinion on social media, were not sympathetic to the members on strike due to the amount of an increase in wages sought.

Colm Woods said on Twitter: “Luas drivers sympathy from me gone once I heard the € 32k-€ 42k they’re complaining about - really glad I have a Masters, eh?”