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.

The unions are objecting to what they call privatisation by stealth of Dublin bus routes.

But a SIPTU spokesman said that yesterday's meeting at the Labour Relations

Commission was very constructive. "Both sides have agreed that there is a potential to reach overall agreement on the future of Dublin Bus and security of employment," SIPTU president Jack O'Connor said.

NBRU general secretary Liam Tobin also said he was hopeful the strikes would be averted and his union will not report back to its strike committee.

A Department of Transport spokesperson said their officials were pleased with the progress made at the talks, and have agreed to proceed with discussions on the basis outlined by the chairman of the talks, Kevin Foley. The department is confident that the talks will be successful, the spokesperson said.

Meanwhile, talks aimed at resolving the ESB dispute will begin at the Labour Court on Thursday.

The threat of power cuts due to start yesterday was removed following the intervention before the weekend of the National Implementation Body (NIB) a high-level union, employer and Government body.

ESB workers are demanding an 18.5% pay rise over the next three years, as well as an additional 14.9% stake in the company on top of the 5% they currently hold.

Following the intervention of the body, union leaders said they were confident that an increased shareholding in the company would now be part of the deal.

But a Department of Communications spokes- man has insisted that an increased workers' stake in the company is not on offer.

The spokesman said this would only be on the table if a strategic partner was sought for the company or in the event of privatisation neither option is being considered, he said.

The ESB group of unions executive is expected to formally withdraw the strike notice when it meets tomorrow.

And the Labour Court talks aimed at hammering out a deal are expected to last several months.