Dublin Bus said yesterday there was no question of immediate industrial action by its drivers despite a 2-to-1 rejection of a rationalisation deal. "Any question of industrial action is way down the line," said Mr Joe Collins, public relations manager of Dublin Bus.
Dublin Bus employs some 2,100 drivers out of a total workforce of 3,000. Their unions, SIPTU and the NBRU, had recommended acceptance of the deal designed to reduce costs by £8 million. However, it was solidly rejected.
Mr Ken Fleming, of SIPTU, said yesterday the union would meet its members in Dublin Bus over the coming weeks to establish why a deal recommended by the union had been so heavily rejected.
An agreement was drawn up between Dublin Bus and the unions in June. The agreement provided for sub-contracting of school bus services. Mr Collins said the income from schoolchildren could be as little as 30p per passenger. Contracting the service out would free buses to carry passengers at full fares.
The extent of the rejection was surprising, according to union sources. "There is a mood out there that Partnership 2000 is not good enough; that there is more money to be had."