Strikes loom as unions pile pressure on Brennan

THE CIE group of unions are expected to give the go-ahead for industrial action today which will cripple rail and bus services within a fortnight.

Air travellers could also face major disruption if Aer Rianta unions agree to industrial action when they meet tomorrow to discuss plans to break up the company.

The country’s largest union, SIPTU, yesterday said industrial action at CIE is inevitable because Transport Minister Seamus Brennan had made it impossible for them to remain in talks on the future of the company.

“The minister undermined our process of consultation with his Department by telling the media that he was proceeding with his plans to franchise out 25% of the Dublin Bus market and 25% of the Bus Éireann market while discussions were ongoing,” SIPTU spokesman Noel Dowling said.

The union had already agreed a programme of one and two-day stoppages before Christmas and the upcoming industrial action will at least include this, Mr Dowling added.

CIE workers are opposed to the franchising out of a part of the company’s bus market because they claim it will undermine job security.

And the National Bus and Rail Union (NBRU) has also withdrawn from talks with the Dept of Transport because it claims that media interviews by the minister undermined the consultation process.

NBRU general secretary Liam Tobin yesterday said it was reasonable to expect industrial action within the next fortnight. The union also balloted in favour of industrial action - what form it will take has to be decided.

Talks between Aer Rianta unions and the Dept of Transport ended last night after three-and-a-half hours.

The Department responded to a union document of last December outlining concerns about the consequences of the reforms of the company proposed by the minister.

The group of unions is to meet tomorrow to consider their position.

The talks process was set up before Christmas when industrial action was threatened at the three Aer Rianta airports. Strike action was deferred pending the outcome of the talks.

Yesterday’s session, chaired by Labour Relations Commission facilitator Tom Pomphrett, dealt with potential changes in employment terms and conditions for staff as a result of the minister’s plans.

Senior union sources said there was increasing scepticism about the talks.