School bus driver strike deferred

A threatened strike by part-time bus drivers nationwide that could have affected thousands of school children today has been called off for one week.

The deferral will allow time for further negotiations between Bus Éireann management and Siptu and the National Bus and Rail Union at the Labour Relations Commission (LRC).

The threatened strike could have affected more than 14,000 schoolchildren, who would have had to make alternative transport arrangements for one week.

The row involves more than 200 staff centres of part-time school bus drivers.

The drivers are seeking a pay increase and improved terms and conditions in line with their full-time colleagues.

Some 10 hours of talks between the two parties took place on Wednesday and a spokesperson for Bus Éireann said the decision to defer strike action was "welcomed by the company".

Both Siptu and the National Bus and Rail Union, which make up the School Bus Drivers' Committee, have called for further talks at the LRC to reach an agreement which could bring an end to the dispute.

According to the unions, part-time drivers earn €11.66 per hour and are guaranteed 21 hours of work per week.

However, they are not entitled to overtime rates, a pension or sick pay.