Talks to resolve row on Galway bus service

Bus Éireann and National Bus and Rail Union (NBRU) representatives will meet today to try to resolve a row which disrupted public…

Bus Éireann and National Bus and Rail Union (NBRU) representatives will meet today to try to resolve a row which disrupted public bus links to and from Galway this week.

Services returned to normal yesterday afternoon when 130 drivers called off the unofficial stoppage after the intervention of the Labour Relations Commission.

The drivers walked out on Wednesday evening over a decision by Bus Éireann to award a contract for a school run to a private operator.

The contract was given to meet seatbelt safety guidelines, according to the company.

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Bus Éireann area manager Jim Woolley said that unions had been consulted on the contract arrangement, which involved hiring a private bus on a school run to Carraroe.

"There was overcrowding on the route, and it was decided in the interests of the safety that the change be made. This did not affect the working arrangements of National Bus and Rail Union members."

NBRU representative Mic- hael Flaherty said the issue of contracting work to private firms, when investment in new buses was required, had to be addressed.