Unofficial strike action by 120 Bus Éireann drivers in Waterford yesterday left more than 5,000 passengers without bus services.
Drivers began a picket at the company's depot in Ferrybank at 8am yesterday morning, and Waterford city, commuter and express services were cancelled for the entire day as a result.
Services from Rosslare Harbour to Dublin and Waterford were also affected. It is expected that normal services will have resumed today.
It is believed the strike action, which involved nearly all the Bus Éireann drivers in the Waterford area, was motivated by the company's use of private operators.
A Bus Éireann spokeswoman said yesterday the company was "surprised and disappointed" by the unofficial action. Management met staff last week about ongoing operational problems, but yesterday's strike action signalled that some people had "broken away from the talks process".
"We were given no prior warning or explanation . . . There are ongoing issues in the Waterford area between staff and management that do have to be resolved. But we prefer to resolve them in a manner that doesn't affect our customers," added the spokeswoman. She said the hiring of private operators was necessary when Bus Éireann drivers were not available.
However, the striking drivers yesterday claimed the company used private operators when their own drivers were available.
They also complained Bus Éireann was not included in the Government's 10-year transport plan published earlier this week.
A meeting between Bus Éireann management and staff in Waterford is scheduled to take place next week.