Bus workers to march in Dublin

THERE is expected to be widespread disruption of Dublin's transport services at lunchtime today as up to 1,000 Dublin Bus employees take to the streets in opposition to company viability plans.

However, union officials have appealed to members at Bus Eireann and Iarnrod Eireann to remain at work as normal.

Members of the National Bus and Railworkers Union (NBRU) will march from Parnell Square at 11 a.m., to join with SIPTU colleagues outside Liberty Hall at noon. They will then proceed to CIE headquarters at Heuston Station, where a protest letter will be handed to the CIE chief executive, Mr Michael McDonnell.

The march will continue to the offices of the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications, Mr Lowry, on Kildare Street.

Though participation in the march by union members is voluntary, it is expected many bus drivers and crew members in the city will take part, leaving buses in garages over lunchtime.

In a letter circulated to CIE's 11,500 staff yesterday, Mr McDonnell said "the quantum" of savings (£44 million) at the three companies was "not negotiable", but that "the method by which they are achieved is". The group's investment strategy "came from the ground up in all CIE companies", he said.