Strikes at Dublin Bus are almost inevitable after workers at the company voted overwhelmingly in favour of industrial action on Friday.
The ballot follows the rejection of an 8.25 per cent pay rise recommendation from the Labour Court. The unions are seeking an agreement in line with what was agreed with Luas workers, who secured increases of about 18 per cent over four years.
The vote, which was put to the 1,500 employees represented by the National Bus and Railworkers’ Union (NBRU), was passed with a mandate of 96 per cent. Dublin Bus employs 3,200 staff.
Industrial action is not a certainty, as the NBRU has indicated a desire to co-ordinate with other unions on the matter. “We would prefer a co-ordinated and united front across the trade union family,” said NBRU general secretary Dermot O’Leary.
The Transport Salaried Staffs Association (TSSA), which represents about 100 Dublin Bus employees, started balloting members on Monday. The vote closes on August 10th.
It’s understood Siptu, which represents 1,650 employees, will ballot its members on the matter next Thursday and Friday.
NBRU and Siptu members voted by an overwhelming 95 per cent against the Dublin Bus offer of 8.25 per cent in pay increases over three years, which suggests Siptu members are also likely to vote in favour of industrial action.
The TSSA vote was much closer, with 54 per cent against and 46 per cent in favour.
Last two weeks in August
All of the unions will meet after the ballots and, depending on the outcomes, will aim to co-ordinate industrial action, which is likely to begin later this month.
It’s understood the unions will provide seven days’ notice before strike action, which leaves a timeframe of the last two weeks in August.
A spokeswoman for Dublin Bus said the company would await the results of the outstanding ballots before “considering the outcome in full”.
The result of Friday’s ballot will be considered by the NBRU national executive council on Tuesday. It’s understood the union could elect to carry out unilateral industrial action in the event Siptu members vote against it.
Industrial action could be averted in the event Dublin Bus makes an improved offer that is to the satisfaction of the unions, and the NBRU has called on Minister for Transport Shane Ross to make an intervention to that effect.
A spokesman for Mr Ross said he noted the result of the vote and pointed out that other unions were still engaged in the balloting process. He reiterated a previous call for both sides “to re-engage as soon as possible with a view to an early settlement”.
Mr O’Leary said the result of Friday’s ballot “has brought the level of anger among Dublin Bus workers into sharp focus”.
“It is important that the company and its paymasters would reflect on this result and realise that the level of pay required to resolve this dispute is very much in their gift,” he said.
“To ignore such a resounding message from workers who have had to endure two cost-cutting plans, inclusive of pay cuts coupled to eight years without a pay rise, would do a disservice to both workers and passengers alike.”
Mr O’Leary added the meeting of the national executive council on Tuesday would discuss the range of options around what industrial action might be mounted. This will include strike action.
“Such a sequence of action can of course be prevented if Dublin Bus indicates that they are willing to come back to the table and discuss the possibility of making an improved pay offer to its hardworking staff.”
