Pre-Christmas rail disruption threatened despite 80 new cars
The risk of rail chaos from mid-December overshadowed yesterday's announcement by Transport Minister Seamus Brennan of a major expansion of commuter and inter-city services from mid-December.
Mr Brennan said the delivery of 80 new commuter railcars would offer commuters more capacity, improve off-peak services and give additional services on a number of inter-city routes.
However, on Monday the 100-strong Irish Locomotive Drivers' Association (ILDA), headed by Brendan Ogle, begins balloting on industrial action, with the outcome expected only days before the expanded rail services begin.
Iarnród Éireann managing director Joe Meagher expressed confidence that ILDA won't get sanction for industrial action. He said the company had written to Brendan Hodgers, Irish regional secretary of ILDA's umbrella union ATGWU "and it's my clear understanding that they won't be supporting any action".
Mr Brennan said the threat to rail services was a matter for the company itself to handle. "I expect the company will make every effort to keep the services running.
"When it comes down to recognition issues I am satisfied and happy to leave that to the company."
About 100 of the 447 train drivers employed by the company are ILDA members. SIPTU and NBRU, which represent the majority of the drivers, have pledged their support for the expanded service.
Iarnród Éireann ignored Mr Ogle's letter of request for talks on the introduction of the new timetable because ILDA is not a registered trade union.
Mr Meagher explained: "When we had the dispute back in 2000 this issue was dealt with by the Labour Relations Commission, the Labour Court, the High Court and the Supreme Court and they all found the same result that there shouldn't be a change, and that the current agreements should be maintained.
"We have written to the ATGWU on this issue and I am confident they won't support any dispute. We've also been in discussion with our trade unions on the expansion of services and have tremendous support both from the unions representing the drivers and all other staff on it."
