Dublin Bus drivers return to work

Dublin Bus drivers at Harristown depot who withdrew their services in protest over the introduction of service changes on Sunday…

Dublin Bus drivers at Harristown depot who withdrew their services in protest over the introduction of service changes on Sunday have returned to work.

In a statement published on its website the company said that while drivers have returned to work a reduced service will be operating this evening on some of their services.

A full service is expected to resume tomorrow morning.

Most routes in the capital returned to normal service by early afternoon except for those operating out of Harristown depot.

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A spokeswoman for the company said union personnel spoke to those concerned in the unofficial action and there was a gradual return to work in Summerhill, Conyngham Road and Clontarf depots.

This morning, up to 150,000 Dublin Bus passengers were left without a service as the unofficial strike spread to four of the city’s seven depots.

Drivers at Harristown withdrew their services on Sunday before the protest spread to Clontarf yesterday and the Conyngham Road and Summerhill depots this morning.

The Dublin Bus spokeswoman said services from the Phibsborugh, Ringsend and Donnybrook depots remained operating as normal.

This morning gardaí opened inbound and outbound bus lanes in the north of the capital to motorists until 10am in a bid to aid commuters. However, bus lanes will be closed to regular traffic this evening and gardaí have reminded motorist to comply with the normal regulations regarding their use.

The wildcat strike was not sanctioned by Siptu or the National Bus and Rail Union (NBRU), but had been organised by a group called the Bus Workers’ Action Group.

The protest started after Dublin Bus suspended a driver for refusing to work the new schedule on the 128 Baldoyle-to-Rathmines service.

The spokeswoman said the changes to schedules were introduced on a number of routes across the city as part of its plans to take 120 buses out of service in an effort to save €31 million annually.

Both unions agreed at the Labour Court earlier this month to accept the cost-saving proposals. However, drivers at Clontarf yesterday said the affected workers had not been given adequate notice of their new rosters.

The following routes have a reduced service

4/4a Harristown to Blackrock/Stradbrook

13/13a Merrion Square to Harristown

17a Finglas to Kilbarrack

27b Eden Quay to Harristown via Beaumont Hospital

27x Clare Hall to UCD Belfield

33b Portrane/Donabate to Swords

37 Hawkins Street to Carpenterstown

37x Carpenterstown to UCD Belfield

38/a Hawkins Street to Damastown

38b/c Hawkins Street to Tyrrelstown

39 Hawkins Street to Ongar

39x Ongar to UCD Belfield

40/a/b/c/d Finglas to City Centre

41 Lower Abbey Street to Swords Manor

41x Swords to UCD Belfield

43 Lower Abbey Street to Swords Business Park

70/a Hawkins Street to Dunboyne

83 Harristown to Kimmage

102 Sutton Station to Airport via Swords

128 Clongriffin to Rathmines (Palmerston Park)

140 Finglas to Leeson Street

142 Portmarnock to Rathmines (Palmerston Park)

237 Blanchardstown to Castleknock

238 Blanchardstown to Tyrellstown

239 Blanchardstown Shopping Centre to Liffey Valley Shopping Centre

270 Blanchardstown Shopping Centre to Dunboyne