CIÉ workers were sharply criticised yesterday for their "pointless" stoppage by business groups and Fine Gael. The action was described as a "disgrace", given that talks were about to begin, by Fine Gael's transport spokesman, Mr Denis Naughten.
"The NBRU and SIPTU have unleashed chaos on the travelling public, with thousands of passengers left stranded by this pointless action," he said.
"The unions are interfering with a fundamental right - the right to travel on public transport."
Mr Naughten said the strike should have been called off as soon as the appointment of Mr Kevin Foley to chair talks between unions and the Department of Transport was announced on Friday.
"Less than 24 hours after the end of this strike, the unions will be sitting down for talks with the Department under the guidance of Mr Foley. Yet the unions' case will have been severely damaged by their actions."
The Chambers of Commerce of Ireland called on the Government to reduce the €260 million State subvention to CIÉ in response to the stoppage.
Mr Mark Staunton, the CCI president, said the strike seemed to have been called solely to allow workers to vent their frustration. "Unions appear to think that this is a sufficient reason to strike.
"They also seem to think that because they will not be paid for the hours that they do not work, they need no further justification. "Apart from the blatant contempt for the public interest that this attitude represents, we would also challenge the unions' assumption that they are entitled to a public subvention even if they are not providing a public service."
Mr Staunton said he had written to the Minister for Transport, Mr Brennan, calling him to reduce the subvention to CIÉ on a pro rata basis for every day there was industrial action in any part of the group.
Mr Brendan McGinty, director of industrial relations with the employers' body, IBEC, also described the stoppage as "pointless" and accused unions of putting "their own self-interest first".
"Given the reaction of the public on other occasions when industrial action caused major disruption to public transport, they will be less forgiving this time round," he said.
The Progressive Democrats transport spokesman, Senator Tom Morrissey, said figures from London showed unions had nothing to fear from the franchising out of routes in Dublin.
The number of passengers in London had increased after privatisation. "An increase in business means better job security for all concerned."
However, Socialist Party TD Mr Joe Higgins said those involved in the stoppage had his "full backing".
"The alternative to privatisation is a programme of sufficient investment in public transport, bus and rail," he said. This must involve also bringing the workers who maintain these services to the heart of the management of public transport."
