There is no end in sight to the dispute at Iarnrod Eireann, which is now entering its second week. So far, it has been the small communities of provincial Ireland which have suffered most and a few companies unable to use road transport. There is, as yet, no powerful groundswell of public anger demanding a settlement. But if the dispute becomes protracted, it will cause further disillusion with the idea of the State providing public transport at the very time when people realise it is more vital to our social and economic well-being than ever before. In short, the Irish Locomotive Drivers' Association (ILDA) and the company could be working themselves out of a job.
There is no doubt that the ILDA members expected some form of third party intervention by now. They could be forgiven for doing so, because the history of industrial relations within the CIE group of companies has been for the relevant minister, either directly through the State mediation bodies or indirectly through some independently appointed mediator, to intervene and avert disruption in public transport.
On this occasion, the Government seems to be holding firm and to be as convinced as Iarnrod Eireann and its trade unions that conceding recognition to the ILDA would open the way to total fragmentation of industrial relations in the company. The company already has at least 11 unions and 34 separate negotiating units. Train drivers are one of the smallest groups within the company and have two unions representing them.
Clearly, the ILDA members were severely disillusioned with the service they were receiving from their former unions to take the drastic step of setting up their own organisation. But the ILDA's lack of experience and professional representation is very clear in the present debacle. They have shown plenty of commitment but little judgment.
It was internal dissension amongst train drivers and their unions, as much as old fashioned hierarchical management structures and bad work practices which gave birth to the ILDA. Somehow or other SIPTU and the NBRU will have to find a way to bring these prodigals home.
For the moment, ILDA appears committed to establishing its right to recognition. In the fight for better pay and conditions, the means has become the end and ILDA is now battling unions and management alike to gain access to the negotiating table. As the association leader, Mr Brendan Ogle, repeatedly says, this dispute can only be resolved through negotiation. His association should seriously consider doing so through their former unions. Such a decision would not be an easy one but it seems to offer the best chance for an early resolution of this dispute in everyone's best interests.