Bus and rail strikes likely to be averted after talks, say unions

UNION leaders said yesterday that the threatened one-day bus and rail strikes due to start next week were likely to be averted.

Following a day-long meeting between CIÉ union officials and the Department of Transport at the Labour Relations Commission, both sides said they hoped the strikes, due to start on July 20, could now be averted.

Both the National Bus and Railworkers Union (NBRU) and SIPTU are against the proposal by Transport Minister Seamus Brennan to franchise out 25% of Dublin bus routes to private operators.