Unions have agreed to attend talks at the Workplace Relations Commission for exploratory talks on the Dublin Bus pay dispute.

Transport Minister Shane Ross is facing renewed attacks on his handling of the pay dispute at Dublin Bus as it enters its latest two day strike.

Update 4.45pm: Siptu have said their members in Dublin Bus have been united in their support of strike action and also said they have been "humbled" by the support from the public.

Unions have criticised Dublin Bus for cutting short tonight’s services, ahead of a 48-hour strike by drivers which comes into effect at midnight.

Dublin Bus services will terminate on Wednesday night because of planned industrial action by drivers.

Dublin could face traffic chaos after two trade unions sounded a warning over three 48-hour work stoppages on the network next month.

Talks aimed at averting a national rail strike get underway today.

Trade union leaders are to meet early next week to plan a campaign of industrial action at Dublin Bus over a long-running pay row.

The possibility of all-out strike action at Dublin Bus has moved another significant step closer after Siptu became the second large driver union to vote in favour of strike action.

Drivers at Dublin Bus represented by Siptu have voted overwhelmingly for industrial action as part of their ongoing pay dispute.

After 12 days of strikes and disruption to hundreds of thousands of passengers over the last four months, the Luas dispute finally appears to be over.

An all-out Luas strike looked last night to be on the cards after Siptu said they would ballot drivers in the next two weeks as the longstanding dispute over pay and conditions moved up a gear.

Siptu has claimed that Luas operator Transdev is turning four-hour stoppages into 14-hour stoppages by refusing to pay drivers for whole shifts on the days in question.

Siptu has described moves by Transdev to suspend a sick pay benefits scheme as “outrageous” and claimed the company is attempting to ratchet up a continuing industrial dispute with staff.

Luas drivers have rescheduled their strikes in June so as not to inconvenience Leaving and Junior Cert students.

The 10% pay cut imposed on Luas drivers from yesterday has made them more resolved and united than ever, their union representative claims.

SIPTU has said that a threat by Transdev to dock the pay of Luas drivers is an outrageous and provocative escalation of the dispute.

The likelihood of an all-out, indefinite strike by Luas workers has now become a distinct possibility, after operator of the light-rail service, Transdev, put staff on protective notice.

The near 100% rejection by Luas workers of pay hikes of up to 18.7% could cripple services with strikes for weeks if not months, said informed sources.

The company that operates the Luas has shelved plans to draft in private buses to replace trams on St Patrick’s Day following a request from the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC).

Talks aimed at resolving the Luas dispute resume at the Workplace Relations Commission today.

As three grades of Luas staff today enter talks at the Workplace Relations Commission on potential pay increases, driver colleagues are preparing for seven days of strikes within the next seven weeks.

Trade unions at Iarnród Éireann are warning of “industrial relations chaos” if the Government has to accede to European Commission demands for the opening up of the country’s rail routes to tender.

The Taoiseach said he believes the Government has achieved the best deal for the country after agreeing to sell the State's share in Aer Lingus.

The Government has given the green light for its sale in Aer Lingus, paving the way for what it claims will be extra jobs for the airline, guarantees on the protection of slots and more services for passengers.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has moved to calm concerns about the potential sale of Aer Lingus and insisted any deal will be done in the “best interests of the whole country”.

As driver strikes force hundreds of thousands of Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann passengers to turn to alternative travel arrangements for two days, all sides in the dispute are under pressure to find a resolution which will avoid another five days of stoppages this month.

Bus driver unions have said Transport Minister Paschal Donohoe’s last-minute intervention ahead of this weekend’s 48 hour stoppage is “welcome but not enough” and said the strike will go ahead as planned.

Bus driver unions say they are willing to go back to the Labour Relations Commission for further talks — but strike action will not be averted unless all their concerns are addressed.

A national bus strike on seven days next month could affect up to 250,000 commuters a day — and driver unions are warning more 24-hour stoppages will follow unless their concerns are addressed.

Bus passengers could still face a national strike at the start of the May bank holiday unless Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann managements and the National Transport Authority address drivers’ concerns over the opening of routes to private tender.

Significant disruption to bus services has moved a step closer after Siptu drivers at Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann voted by more than 90% in favour of strike over plans to open up 10% of bus routes to private sector tendering.

A national bus strike has taken a step closer with the two largest driver unions in Bus Éireann and Dublin Bus to ballot their members for action over the potential privatisation of up to 10% of bus routes.

A senior trade union official says IAG will have to "do a lot" to convince members to back their bid for Aer Lingus.

Following Cabinet discussions on the potential sale of Aer Lingus Transport Minister Paschal Donohoe has said the Government would seek answers from IAG over the future of Aer Lingus in coming days.

Greyhound Recycling claims a High Court order stopping protesters blockading bin trucks has been breached.

Unions at Irish Rail say the only way strike action planned for next Sunday and Monday can be averted is if the company and the Government freeze the implementation of pay cuts.

Talks at the Labour Relations Commission between unions and management at Iarnród Éireann have been adjourned until Monday.

The union representing 80 workers at the Greyhound waste recycling plant is meeting the Labour Relations Commission this afternoon to discuss an on-going dispute with the company.