New Bus Éireann talks expected in bid to avoid strike

WRC to intervene in dispute as action threatens to bring services to standstill

The WRC is expected to intervene in the industrial dispute at Bus Éireann. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill
The WRC is expected to intervene in the industrial dispute at Bus Éireann. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill

The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) is expected to intervene on Tuesday in the dispute which threatens to bring Bus Éireann services nationwide to a standstill next week.

The WRC is expected to invite the company and trade unions representing the 2,600 staff to exploratory talks on Wednesday.

Unions are planning an all-out indefinite strike from February 20th to protest against management plans to introduce radical cuts to staff earnings as part of a new survival plan.

Bus Éireann has argued the cuts are necessary to address a serious financial crisis at the State-owned transport companies.

Martin Wall

Martin Wall

Martin Wall is the former Washington Correspondent of The Irish Times. He was previously industry correspondent