A CUT in sick pay leave for Dublin Bus drivers who are assaulted at work is one of the proposals in a new restructuring deal presented to the unions.
Drivers are now entitled to 26 weeks' sick leave with full pay, but this will be reduced to 12 weeks if the new terms are accepted.
Some 115 drivers have been off sick as the result of attacks at any given time.
There are currently 48 drivers and two conductors on leave following attacks.
The restructuring proposals would also cut drivers' earnings by between £20 and £40 a week. They have been described by trade union leaders as draconian.
The company wants to use part-time drivers for much of the existing work, especially on school buses, Nightlink services and vehicles for private functions. It also wants to eliminate much of the current overtime and special payments for Sunday working.
However, Dublin Bus drivers are being asked to concede much less than many other workers in the State transport system. No redundancies are being sought among the 1,950 drivers.
The general secretary of the National Bus and Rail Union, Mr Peter Bunting, said after meeting management for initial discussions yesterday that many drivers would leave the company before accepting the new structures as they stood.
The branch secretary for SIPTU drivers, Mr Ken Fleming, said his union would be making counterproposals once it had had a chance to study the proposals.