INDUSTRIAL ACTION at Dublin Bus which had threatened to cause serious disruption for about 450,000 passengers from this weekend has been averted following talks at the Labour Relations Commission (LRC).
A one-day stoppage by staff at Bus Éireann planned for Saturday has also been postponed.
Unions said that the planned strike action at Dublin Bus had been deferred for a week to allow for new intensive talks with management on a controversial cost-containment plan.
Dublin Bus said the implementation of its cost-effectiveness plan was also to be deferred for a week to facilitate the new negotiations.
The National Bus and Rail Union (NBRU) had planned to hold a one-day stoppage on Saturday while another main union at the company, Siptu was scheduled to begin a continuous strike from Sunday. The actions were in protest at the cost-effectiveness plan announced by Dublin Bus which would have involved cutting 290 jobs, including those of 160 drivers.
It is understood that the LRC proposal put forward yesterday stated that any reductions in driver numbers, which may be identified in the course of reaching agreement, would be the subject of negotiations.
The NBRU said last night that the LRC had maintained that the forthcoming talks could look at the issue of a voluntary severance package at Dublin Bus.
In a statement yesterday, 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 agreed not to implement threatened job cuts and this has helped create a space within which talks can take place.”
Dublin Bus said it had accepted proposals put forward by the LRC at talks yesterday.
“The proposals are that no industrial action will be taken by either trade union and the company will not implement its cost effectiveness plan for a period of one week.
“This is to allow for intensive discussions and negotiations between all parties using the services of the LRC commencing Monday 2nd, March”, it said.
The NBRU also confirmed in a statement last night that it had suspended its strike action scheduled for Saturday following the intervention of the LRC.
“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”, NBRU general secretary Michael Faherty said.