Commuters face chaos as workers protest

THOUSANDS of public transport users face chaos today as the trade union movement mounts one of the biggest national demonstrations in its history.

The row is over the low statutory payments provided for under 35-year-old redundancy payments legislation.

Talks were continuing at the Labour Relations Commission late last night in an effort to reach a settlement, but trade union leaders said that even if the Irish Glass Bottle row and related disputes were settled, the march was unlikely to be called off. This is because the unions want action taken on the wider front particularly the introduction of legislation to raise the statutory redundancy payments to at least three weeks' pay per year of service.

Union leaders believe the recent publication of the Flood Tribunal report will swell the numbers demonstrating. The biggest march will start in Dublin from Smithfield at 2pm, progressing to the gates of Leinster House in Kildare Street, where a letter of protest will be handed in to Tánaiste and Minister for Trade and Enterprise Mary Harney.

Marches will be held in all the major cities, and further protests are also planned in Carlow, Drogheda, Kildare and Kilkenny.

Irish Rail and Dublin Bus say they cannot predict how seriously the march will affect their services. Irish Rail spokesman Barry Kenny said: "We are uncertain at this stage. We are urging staff to ensure services operate fully, but there is always the possibility of knock-on effects for the service if workers walk off the job."

Employers' body IBEC, representing 7,000 companies, said it was impossible to predict what losses they may incur if the marches go ahead. IBEC director of human resources Brendan McGinty has warned that any workers who absent themselves from work would have their wages cut accordingly and also face possible disciplinary action.

He described the trade unions' planned march as "a gross over-reaction." SIPTU, representing 250,000 workers, has instructed members to make arrangements about the stoppage and allow designated individuals represent the workforce in the march.

The ESB unions, representing 8,000 workers, support the protest, but say power supplies will not be hit as a result.

Aer Lingus union leaders, representing 6,000 workers, said special arrangements were made to ensure no disruption of services.

The legislation on redundancy payments has not been changed since 1967 and the Tánaiste is examining a report drawn up by IBEC and the trade unions on the subject.