Strikes at Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann seem set to go ahead this weekend, despite Government assurances that staff will not have to transfer to a private operator, even if the State companies lose the contract to provide existing routes.
Siptu and the National Bus and Rail Union (NBRU) welcomed the Minister's new guarantee but said it only dealt with one element of their concerns.
Siptu said that “without a comprehensive agreement which takes into account the issues raised by our members the industrial action on Friday, 1st May, and Saturday, 2nd May, will go ahead as planned”.
Meanwhile Bus Éireann said if the planned strikes went ahead “ the board and management would have to seriously consider measures to protect the company and all its employees”.
Bus Éireann chief executive Martin Nolan said that any strike action could have dire financial consequences for its business, including the loss of up to 850,000 passenger journeys, and up to €5million.
Dublin Bus said industrial action would only serve to disrupt and discommode customers and would result in substantial revenue losses of €600,000 per day.
Both companies urged unions to call off the planned strikes and return to talks.
The unions said they would attend any new talks convened.
The dispute centres on plans by the National Transport Authority to put out to tender 10 per cent of routes currently operated by Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann.
The unions believe the plans could result in the privatisation of existing services and result in a reduction in their members’ terms and conditions.
The Minister for Transport Paschal Donohoe said "no existing employee of either company will be required to change company if their company were not to win a tender for such a proposed route".
The Government believes that due to projected growth in Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann there will be sufficient roles for existing personnel – even if they lost the right to operate some existing services.
He said the Government's new assurances provided the basis for engagement in the Labour Relations Commission and the strikes should not now go ahead.
Mr Donohoe said the new assurances comprehensively dealt with the unions’ industrial relations concerns. He said what might happen in 2019 when further market reforms may come into effect would be dealt with at the end of the lifetime of the next Dáil.
Siptu utilities and construction division organiser, Owen Reidy welcomed the Minister's commitment, but said that this addressed only one of the union's concerns. He said if asked Siptu would attend any new talks process.
However, he said the strikes would only be called off if there was a comprehensive agreement dealing with all staff concerns. These include what would happen in 2019 and their call for labour costs to be removed as one of the criteria for tendering of routes.
NBRU general secretary Dermot O’Leary said the Minister “ needs to move towards turning all this positivity into a workable solution, which will not alone focus on the issues he has addressed today, but also those that concern the future of both bus companies and the CIE Group as a whole.”
The first strike is due to take place on Friday and could disrupt the travel plans of more than 500,000 people.
