Threat of transport strike looms

THE PROSPECT of a crippling strike action by CIÉ increased further yesterday after Transport Minister Seamus Brennan failed to deliver a promised response to union concerns.

Bus and Rail unions warned last night that a resumption of industrial action would be announced on Friday if a satisfactory response from the Department was not forthcoming by then.

Following a four-hour meeting of SIPTU’s strike committee of Dublin Bus, Iarnród Éireann and Bus Éireann, the union said it was angry that clarification on future plans for CIÉ companies had not been forthcoming from Mr Brennan.

At a tense meeting on Monday between Mr Brennan, SIPTU and the National Bus and Railworkers Union, Mr Brennan was said by unions to have promised to respond before yesterday’s strike committee meeting.

Although a spokesperson for Mr Brennan said no specific timeframe for a response had been given, unions seized on yesterday’s lack of communication as further proof that Mr Brennan was determined to undermine talks.

After yesterday’s meeting, SIPTU’S national industrial secretary, Michael Halpenny, said the committee was dissatisfied and angry at the way Mr Brennan continued to undermine negotiations.

Unions, which have been in and out of talks with the Department of Transport for more than a year now, already have a valid mandate for strike action.

A NBRU no-fares day last summer cost the company over 1 million while an unofficial stoppage by SIPTU Dublin Bus drivers last week caused disruption in the capital.

NBRU officials said they would be meeting with other CIÉ unions over the next few days to consider what action may be necessary to oppose Government proposals to break up the company.

NBRU General Secretary, Liam Tobin, said he was surprised Mr Brennan had not yet responded to the unions.

However Mr Tobin also struck a conciliatory tone.

“I understand the Minister had to attend a Cabinet meeting this morning and then go on to Brussels.

“Given the seriousness of the situation in CIÉ and the effects a dispute could have on our members, their families and the travelling public, we have no problem waiting a few days to hear his views.

“We will then consider with our colleagues in the other unions what action, if any, may be necessary to protect our members’ interests and the integrity of the public transport system,” he said.

A spokeswoman for Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said the Cabinet had been briefed on the CIÉ talks by Mr Brennan, who stressed that he was now focusing on an intense round of discussion and dialogue.