SIPTU backs bus and rail stoppage for Monday

THE PROSPECT of transport disruption on Monday worsened significantly last night as SIPTU threw its weight behind bus and rail stoppages at CIÉ.

Despite the announcement yesterday of a Labour Relations Commission (LRC) chairman to facilitate talks between unions and Transport Minister Seamus Brennan, both SIPTU and the National Bus and Railworkers' Union (NBRU) say they are angered at his behaviour.

Tired of waiting for promised talks on the breakup of CIÉ, the NBRU announced on Thursday it would hold a four-hour stoppage on Monday beginning at 11am followed by another full-day stoppage a week later.

Subsequently the LRC announced yesterday that Kevin Foley had been appointed to chair talks on the issue.

But while the full-day stoppage has since been postponed, Monday's action will go ahead and has the full support of CIÉ's largest union, SIPTU.

Speaking after a four-hour meeting of SIPTU's CIÉ strike committee yesterday, national industrial secretary Michael Halpenny said SIPTU was willing to enter discussions under Mr Foley but would also support the NBRU strike on Monday.

"SIPTU's CIÉ strike committee has given its support to the proposed bus and rail protest. The committee understands the frustration that has built up among the CIÉ workforce and we are therefore asking our members to participate in the protest where it is practicable to do so," he said.

Although Monday's action will not be cancelled, Mr Halpenny said sufficient progress could avert a full day strike next month.

"If a satisfactory solution to our members' concerns on job security, terms and conditions of employment in the CIÉ group of companies is not forthcoming, then industrial action in the form of an initial one day stoppage on March 18 will proceed," he said.

"Our members don't know whether they are coming or going. They don't know if they have a future," he continued.

Meanwhile speaking at the launch of the West on Track feasibility study in Mayo, Minister Brennan said there was no need at all for any stoppage.

"Two weeks ago we made an agreement that we would get these talks going under an independent chairperson. It has taken two weeks to secure his services. There was no need at all for this, I'm as anxious as they are to have talks," he said.

Mr Brennan said his department had been in almost daily contact with the unions in the last two weeks and asked the unions not to go ahead with the stoppage.

"I think it's worth reminding people what's at issue here the government reforms in the area of public transport, seeking to move from monopolies to open markets.

"I'm not trying to be provocative but, in a way, if it does happen that the transport industry shuts down for a period, does that not beg the question that change is more urgent?" he said.