Strike action expected over CIE break-up plan

A COMPLETE shutdown of bus and rail networks within weeks appeared almost certain last night after CIE’s largest union, SIPTU, added its voice to union anger at Transport Minister Seamus Brennan.

Today the National Bus and Rail Union (NBRU) meets to decide on industrial action which was postponed in August after talks were agreed with the Department of Transport.

Those talks have collapsed after the NBRU accused Minister Brennan of treachery over statements he made on his plans for CIE in the media while sensitive talks were ongoing.

The last meeting between the Department of Transport and unions was on December 16 but was followed two days later by statements in which Minister Brennan reaffirmed his intention to break up CIE.

Today's emergency meeting of the NBRU executive is expected to clear the way for a resumption of strike action and a push for stoppages within two weeks.

With the collapse of the talks, industrial action, which first began in August when staff refused to collect fares, could escalate to full stoppages countrywide.

Last night SIPTU which has up to 5,000 Irish Rail, Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann members also expressed its frustration with Minister Brennan.

SIPTU national industrial secretary with responsibility for CIE, Noel Dowling, said rail and bus staff were extremely unhappy and felt let down by the actions of Minister Brennan.

"It's impossible to keep negotiations going in that kind of an atmosphere. There is an incredible amount of unhappiness there and you just can't continue discussions in that atmosphere," he said.

All CIE unions, including SIPTU and the NBRU, are due at an Irish Congress of Trade Union (ICTU) meeting on Thursday at which the NBRU call for strike action is expected to be supported by other unions.

Although no formal SIPTU decision has yet been made, Mr Dowling said it was practically impossible to continue talks with the Department. "It's extremely difficult, if not impossible, for us to carry on in talks," he said.

"It's safe to say that all of our members are very angry at the way Minister Brennan is doing business," Mr Dowling said.

A spokesman for Minister Brennan said that as a public representative the minister was obliged to comment on matters of public policy when asked. "He doesn't see any reason to take a vow of silence and the unions are entitled to do the same," the spokesman said.

The Department of Transport is still expecting the CIE unions to attend talks next week on opening up the Dublin bus market.

However, Mr Dowling said it was disingenuous of Minister Brennan to say he was only responding to media queries. "In the middle of delicate talks he has repeatedly gone to the press and undermined those very talks," he said.