Brennan under fire as unions prepare to roll out nationwide strike

ALL bus and rail services nationwide will grind to a halt in 10 days after drivers yesterday voted overwhelmingly in favour of a series of rolling strike actions.

Accusing Transport Minister Seamus Brennan of repeatedly breaking his word, 4,000 members of the National Bus and Railworkers Union (NBRU) yesterday approved industrial action by a majority of 90%.

Announcing a series of incremental actions beginning with a one-day stoppage on Tuesday, July 20, NBRU general secretary Liam Tobin said the union had no other option after Mr Brennan failed to respond to concerns about privatisation of CIÉ.

“Not only have they reneged on commitments to provide a definitive response to the unions on our concerns about the minister’s plans for Dublin Bus but they have stated quite emphatically that they will continue to issue licences to private bus operators.

“This is the third occasion on which the minister has failed to meet his own deadlines to complete talks with us,” he said.

In addition to the initial one-day stoppage, further industrial action will take place on August 4, 24 and 25, and from September 7 to September 9.

After the final three-day stoppage the NBRU executive will meet to review the situation.

Although CIÉ’s largest union, SIPTU, is continuing in talks with the Department of Transport about the break-up of CIÉ, officials confirmed last night that SIPTU members would not pass the NBRU picket lines.

However, Dublin’s new LUAS service, which does not have any NBRU members, will not be affected.

Mr Brennan has insisted there is no need for strike action as a talks process has been underway since February 2003 where department officials and union representatives could discuss matters.

A spokesman for the minister last night said the kind of action planned by the NBRU reinforced the need for reform of the public transport sector.

However, Mr Tobin said the issuing of bus route licences by the Department of Transport was undermining any talks. “I would appeal to him to stop this policy of privatisation by stealth before it is too late for his successors to unravel the mess. Life for bus workers and the travelling public is not about sound bites and photo opportunities, or trying to get a job on the European Commissioner, it is about having a cheap, efficient and safe transport system. The minister is paid to provide one. It is about time he started doing the day job,” he said.

Meanwhile unions at the ESB have decided against escalating their dispute until ICTU general secretary David Begg has had a chance to reach a settlement.

Last week, ESB Officers’ Association served a strike notice saying it was frustrated at the lack of progress in negotiating a new in-house partnership agreement. But Mr Begg urged unions not to take industrial action in such a critical industry until every avenue had been exhausted.

Although the ESBOA strike notice remains in place and is due to expire on July 12, the union’s executive will meet on Tuesday to consider the situation.