LRC talks today on getting ammonia to IFI

The Labour Relations Commission has invited Iarnrod Eireann and two trade unions for talks today on resuming rail deliveries …

The Labour Relations Commission has invited Iarnrod Eireann and two trade unions for talks today on resuming rail deliveries of ammonia to the Irish Fertilizer Industries plant in Arklow.

The discussions with management, SIPTU and the National Bus and Rail Workers' Union will take place in Cork.

A spokesman for Iarnrod Eireann said only the two trade unions would be present as the Irish Locomotive Drivers' Association (ILDA) was not a recognised union.

Union recognition is one of the issues at the centre of the unofficial action by the ILDA, which is in dispute over pay and rostering.

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The talks will centre on the Arklow plant where almost 200 workers were laid off on July 8th. The rail dispute meant IFI could not get a regular supply of raw materials.

The rail company spokesman said it would be possible to get regular supplies of ammonia to Arklow from Cork, if agreement on new rostering arrangements could be reached with SIPTU and the NBRU.

Meanwhile, passenger train services will continue to be disrupted because of the dispute.

The spokesman said services would be quite good on the Cork-Dublin line. Nine trains would run one way and 10 the other.

Limerick services would be running at around 80 per cent, while Belfast and Galway would have a full train service.

However, the worse disruption would continue to be on the Tralee, Westport and Waterford lines. Suburban services between Dublin and Kildare, Drogheda and Maynooth would also be badly affected.

The unofficial strike began in the middle of last month. Passengers who want more information on train services should contact the Iarnrod Eireann information office at 1850 366222.