Rail unions meet tomorrow to discuss tactics

Representatives of the two main rail workers' unions are to meet tomorrow to discuss whether to act further against CIE following yesterday's unofficial strike.

While SITPU and NRBU denied orchestrating the stoppage, they refused to condemn the 300 drivers whose unofficial action caused severe inconvenience to tens of thousands of commuters throughout the State.

Mr Peter Bunting, NRBU general secretary, threatened there would be further disruption unless the CIE chairman, E, Mr Brian Joyce, withdrew his criticism of the unions and his management team signalled a change in approach to the dispute.

But Mr Tony Tobin of SIPTU said he did not believe there was any threat of further action.

Dublin Chamber of Commerce said the strike cost the city at least £2 million between lost working hours and shopping revenue. Many people were late for work, but there was very low absenteeism.

Traffic in the suburbs was worst affected, with lengthy tailbacks at morning and evening peak times on all the main routes, exacerbated by additional commuters who switched from rail and overcrowded bus services to cars. But traffic in the city was surprisingly free-flowing for much of the day.

The unions will tomorrow consider proposals put forward by the Labour Relations Commission (LRC) at the weekend aimed at resolving the dispute.

The Minister for Public Enterprise, Ms O'Rourke, said the work stoppage was greatly to be regretted. "I would urge all parties, therefore, to get around the table as soon as possible to resolve their remaining difficulties and bring these talks to a successful conclusion," she said.

Iarnrod Eireann said there was no justification for the stoppage and apologised to commuters.

The strongest condemnation of the stoppage came from Mr Turlough O'Sullivan, the director of the employers' group, IBEC, who said it was a major setback to the partnership approach to industrial relations in Ireland. He said it indicated unions such as SITPU were out of touch with reality and had no regard to the greater good of citizens.

Mr Brendan Ogle, chairman of the National Locomotive Drivers' Association, which claims to represent 120 drivers, said the strike "has achieved nothing except possibly causing irreparable damage to the reputation of drivers in the eyes of the public and serious damage to the credibility of the trade union movement".

Mr Bunting of NRBU admitted the workers may have lost public sympathy, but said: "CIE workers have never won anything on the backs of the public".