Labour Court, LRC propose rail initiative

An unprecedented initiative aimed at ending the train drivers' dispute was proposed yesterday by the Labour Relations Commission (LRC) and the Labour Court.

The LRC and the Labour Court offered to undertake a joint investigation "of the current claims and counter-claims" in the dispute because of the "unique circumstances prevailing" and the continuing effect on public transport, business and tourism throughout the State.

The joint statement from both bodies said the action was being taken in the overall national interest and that, before the investigation began, it was expected that all drivers in Iarnrod Eireann would return to duty under the new conditions of employment by the start of business on Monday. Train drivers who maintain they are in dispute may work "under protest", if necessary.

It was unclear last night if the initiative would lead to the resolution of the dispute. While Iarnrod Eireann confirmed that it would co-operate fully with the proposed action, the ILDA said it would give a full response to the offer after an executive meeting on Sunday.

The ILDA executive secretary, Mr Brendan Ogle, was said to be "disappointed" that members were being asked to return to "unsafe working practices". The ILDA would require an assurance over the next couple of days that its members would work a safe agreement and they would be seeking an assurance from the LRC and the Labour Court that their agenda would be addressed, he told RTE.

Under the terms of the intervention all parties with an interest in the dispute would be entitled to make a written submission. The investigation, together with the issuing of its report, would be completed within three months.

The initiative, issued in the names of the chairmen of the LRC and the Labour Court, Mr Kieran Mulvey and Mr Finbarr Flood, said the "unprecedented joint initiative" was being taken under Section 26 of the Industrial Relations Act 1990, which relates to matters affecting the public interest.

News of the initiative was immediately praised by the main political parties, as well as the Minister for Public Enterprise, Ms O'Rourke.

The offer to intervene came in the wake of Wednesday's secondary picketing, which affected bus and train services in Dublin and throughout the State. However, bus services operated as normal yesterday, with Iarnrod Eireann describing train service as "normal in terms of this dispute".

Talks yesterday between Iarnrod Eireann and SIPTU, aimed at averting a threatened strike by permanent way employees, failed to reach agreement. Strike notice is due to expire on Monday and the dispute would have the potential to close all rail services within days.

The SIPTU national industrial secretary, Mr Noel Dowling, said if a solution was not found by Monday, the ensuing strike would be worse than the ILDA action.