Minister for Transport Paschal Donohoe has said he will not meet Luas staff while industrial action is still pending.
The trade union Siptu, representing Luas workers, on Monday wrote to the Minister advising him they were calling off strikes planned for this weekend and seeking a meeting with him.
Siptu said at the time it was not seeking for Mr Donohoe to intervene in the dispute with Luas operator Transdev, but wanted to give him a better understandings of staff concerns.
Turned down
However, in a letter sent to Siptu on Thursday, the Minister turned down the request.
“As you know I have always welcomed the opportunity to meet with different groups to discuss transport matters and I believe it to be an important part of the job to understand as wide a range of perspectives as possible.
“However, given that further industrial action is still planned and a resolution to the dispute has not yet been agreed, I do not think it appropriate to meet under these circumstances,” he wrote.
The Minister said he very much welcomed the decision to call off the strikes scheduled for this weekend.
“Resolution of this dispute will involve the two parties - the employees and their employer - working to narrow their differences, and the State’s industrial relations bodies should then be able to facilitate them in reaching an agreement.
“As I have said before, I am firmly of the view that these expert and experienced bodies are best equipped to assist in the resolution of industrial relations disputes.
‘Use opportunity’
“With all this in mind, I now urge that your members and the company use the opportunity presented by the decision to call off this weekend’s planned action to redouble efforts to come to an acceptable agreement.”
Six further strikes are planned by Luas workers in the weeks ahead as part of their campaign for improved terms and conditions.
Talks between management and drivers are scheduled to take place on Monday.
Meetings between management at Transdev and other non-driver grades of staff at the company took place in recent days and were described as “positive”.
