Train drivers begin balloting on one-day strikes

Train drivers have started a week-long ballot over a series of one day-strikes on inter-city and commuter services in the 10 days before Christmas.

Approximately 100 drivers, who are former members of the now disbanded Irish Locomotive Drivers' Association (ILDA), are considering the action.

Mr Brendan Ogle, secretary of the ATGWU branch representing the drivers, told ireland.comthe ballot was a reaction to the decision by Iarnród Éireann to introduce new rosters from Sunday, December 14th, without consultation with these drivers.

Strike action is being considered because the ATGWU drivers are not represented in negotiations with the company. Iarnród Éireann will only negotiate with SIPTU or the NBRU, which represent the remaining 260 drivers.

Mr Ogle said the changes to the drivers' rosters being considered constitute a "change in work practices" and could not be imposed by the company.

Asked if the train drivers branch would proceed with strike action without support from the ATGWU, Mr Ogle said "if the members of the branch endorse strike action, well, that's our mandate".

According to Mr Ogle "faxes have been flying back and forth" between the company and the union but no arrangement has been made yet for talks.

Iarnród Éireann has said that representation of train drivers is a matter for the trade union movement. The company said the issue had been resolved in 2001 when the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) ruled the ATGWU should not organise train drivers.

However, Mr Ogle is taking legal advice to see whether the company is legally obliged to negotiate with the drivers' representatives.