Dublin Bus strikes suspended on foot of improved pay offer

All of the planned strikes at Dublin Bus have been suspended for now following an agreement on a pay rise for drivers.

The company increased its offer to a raise of 11.25 per cent over three years, which is to be backdated to January 2016.

Drivers had previously rejected an 8.25 per cent pay increase over three years which was recommended by the Labour Court.

Both Siptu and the National Bus and Rail Union (NBRU) said they would be putting the proposals to a ballot of their members.

The NBRU said the offer, which came after 30 hours of negotiations between Dublin Bus management and unions at the Workplace Relations Commission, was at "the optimum" that could be achieved at this time.

NBRU general secretary Dermot O’Leary said “having gone through eight years without a pay rise, two cost cutting plans, inclusive of pay cuts, we remain of the belief that our members are deserving of a significant pay award”.

Siptu said an “improved offer on our members’ pay claim has been achieved”.

“All upcoming industrial action at Dublin Bus has been suspended until the outcome of the ballot is known,” Siptu organiser Owen Reidy said.

Luas deal

He aded that the proposed 3.75 per cent annual increase was more or less the same on average on an annualised basis as the deal secured by Luas staff.

Mr Reidy said the new deal also involved adjustments to procedures and policies as opposed to the introduction of new substantive productivity measures.

However, he warned that unless the Government increased its subvention for the transport sector, there would be further disputes even if Dublin Bus staff accepted the new proposals.

The deal also provides for the introduction of new random drug and alcohol testing for 5 per cent of Dublin Bus staff each year.

Staff will also have to co-operate with a new programme known as “lean management” which seeks to achieve changes to operational procedures.

The deal also re-affirms the implementation of current rules for changing bus schedules. It also says there will be no further cost increasing claims by unions over the lifetime of the agreement while management will make no proposals that would worsen the terms and conditions of workers.

Mr O’Leary said the deal also included an evaluation of the job of Dublin Bus drivers compared to tram drivers on the Luas system. He said further down the line there could be pay parity for bus drivers with Luas drivers through this process.

Positive engagement

Dublin Bus thanked all parties involved “for their constructive and positive engagement” and welcomed the suspension by the unions of the future planned industrial action.

Minister for Transport Shane Ross, who was criticised for not intervening in the dispute, said he was “as relieved as every member of the travelling public” to hear there had been a breakthrough in the dispute.

“The hard work, the steely patience and the long hours that they have all put in over the past few days - particularly in the last 24 hours - is encouraging,” he said.

Dublin Bus services have been halted by strikes on six days recently. Eleven further days of planned strike action had been announced by the unions including a work stoppage this Saturday which coincides with the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship final replay.

Dublin Bus had said the industrial action was costing it more than €600,000 a day when services were halted and was limiting its ability to pay even the 8.25 per cent recommended by the Labour Court.