The Government should halt its policy of licensing private bus operators in Dublin, SIPTU's Dublin Bus branch committee has said.
The union said Dublin Bus and its employees were being "fed to the wolves" by the Department of Public Enterprise. It is seeking an urgent meeting with the Minister, Ms O'Rourke. The union's comments followed a decision by the Minister of State at the Department of Public Enterprise, Mr Joe Jacob, to license two new private operators.
It said Ms O'Rourke had given the unions a promise that Dublin Bus would not face competition from the private sector for at least three years, with a possible two-year extension to that. It said this was needed so that Dublin Bus could "capitalise on the benefits of new cost-efficient work practices and to prepare for the challenges of liberalisation".
"The Minister also promised that she would permit Dublin Bus the fares increase denied by successive governments over a period of nine years," said Mr Noel Dowling, SIPTU's national industrial secretary.
"Having lived up to their side of the bargain and achieved cost savings of £4 million per annum, the unions have been kicked in the teeth in the most underhanded manner," he added.
Mr Dowling said private operators would "cherry-pick" the most profitable routes, leaving Dublin Bus with only loss-making routes.
The first new service, being provided by a Dublin-based company, Aircoach, will operate between Mullingar and Dublin Airport, serving Kinnegad, Kilcock, Leixlip and Maynooth. Another service, operated by Crosson Transport Group, will provide a shuttle service between the airport and Howth Junction DART station.