Siptu warns of strike action at Bus Éireann

The trade union Siptu has warned that Bus Éireann services could be hit by strike action from next Thursday over plans by management to implement a recovery plan for the company.

Siptu yesterday became the third union at Bus Éireann to vote in favour of industrial action in the event of management proceeding with its recovery plan.

The company has said it will begin implementing the measures from next Sunday.

Among the measures which Bus Éireann is planning to implement are a reduction of overtime rates from 1.5 times to 1.25 times; an increase in working week for clerical and executive staff from 36 hours to 39 hours; cuts in shift, premium and rota payments; the curtailing of annual leave entitlement by three days for three years (2013-2015); and a scaling back of a range of allowance and expense payments by 33.3 per cent.