Strike puts commuters off track and on buses
Commuter lines from Cobh and Mallow ground to a halt after the company threatened disciplinary action against two line inspectors.
An estimated 350 people - about 50% of early morning Dublin-bound passengers - were also affected. The 5.15am and 7am Cork-Dublin inter-city services were cancelled but passengers were bussed to Mallow for 8am to connect with the Tralee-Dublin train.
Normal services resumed by mid-morning after the company agreed to “recall” disciplinary forms issued in midweek against a number of staff.
Management and unions also met yesterday afternoon to restore industrial calm.
Irish Rail business development manager in Cork Andrew Roche said no local commuters were stranded.
Unofficial industrial action commenced at 12.01am yesterday but the company claimed that a number of staff, described as key operatives, “walked off the job” on Tuesday last in support of two line inspectors.
Mr Roche said that, as a result, disciplinary charges were levelled against eight workers.
He said that, early yesterday, “the company decided to recall the disciplinary forms issued to staff in order to create circumstances in which management, staff and trade unions can meet to discuss all of the issues involved.” Mr Roche said the recall of notices was taken without precondition.
However, Cork-based NRBU executive member Dermot O’Leary claimed a commitment had been given earlier in the week by Irish Rail management in Dublin that no punishment would be meted out to staff until a monitoring committee had investigated the dispute.
“Local management, however, went a step forward and issued proceedings against our colleagues,” he said. “I have no doubt the commitment I received from Dublin was given in good faith.”
Mr O’Leary revealed that at a midweek NRBU branch meeting, members had agreed to take a ballot in the near future to consider industrial action over difficulties being experienced in Cork.
He claimed “industrial relations were poor” at Kent Station in recent years.
NRBU general secretary Liam Tobin said management had issued disciplinary proceedings following “a minor dispute” on Tuesday. He said the action by management was appalling.
“It’s quite incredible what happened,” he said. “It’s been over four years since there was a dispute in Irish Rail. Staff are angry over what happened in Cork where industrial relations are going downhill rapidly.”
