The decision by Transdev, the operator of the Luas system, to bring in replacement buses for the planned strike by staff on St Patrick's Day ups the ante in an already fraught dispute.
The move, according to union sources, is likely to inflame the situation. Luas drivers are likely to view the development as strike breaking.
The introduction of a replacement bus service will be costly for the company.
The service will also not have the same capacity as the Luas light rail system which generally carries about 90,000 passengers on a weekday.
However, the move will provide some form of transport service for thousands of people wishing to attend St Patrick’s Day events in Dublin.
The question now will be is how will Siptu, which represents Luas staff, respond?
Highly placed sources said those picketing on St Patrick’s Day would act lawfully.
During the one-day strikes at the company up to now, pickets have been placed only at the two Luas depots at Red Cow and Sandyford.
The planned replacement bus services will operate from separate park-and ride-facilities on the outskirts of the city.
It remains to be seen whether there will be protests by striking Luas drivers in these locations.
Siptu also warned last week that an all-out strike at Luas could be on the cards following the collapse of talks in relation to a pay claim by drivers earlier this week.
Any such escalation would require Siptu to conduct a further ballot of members at Luas.
Whether the company’s move on Friday to bring in replacement buses hardens the attitude of drivers in relation to a full/scale strike, only time will tell.
Given the in-house rules requiring the union to give three weeks notice of industrial action, any all- out strike is probably at least a month away.
