Ferries to resume service after talks deal

IRISH FERRIES will today begin resuming services after Government intervention resulted in a breakthrough in the 11-day-old dispute between workers and management at the company.

The development came after the Government’s industrial relations trouble-shooting body, the National Implementation Body (NIB), yesterday outlined five steps aimed at resolving the bitter stand-off.

The dispute centres on proposals by Irish Ferries to introduce low-cost foreign crews on one of its routes. However, SIPTU, fearful the move would eventually be repeated for all routes, voted overwhelmingly in favour of strike action.

Over one third of the company’s 1,200 staff were laid off during the dispute, with SIPTU accusing management of locking out workers. However, under yesterday’s NIB formula, management and unions will now enter talks at the Labour Relations Commission (LRC). Should the LRC fail to resolve the issue, the agreement provides for the Labour Court to rule on the matter.

The NIB’s proposals allow both sides to back down without losing face as they call for the exploration of all options to achieve the viable operation of the Ireland-France route without preconditions by either side.

Under the proposals, all industrial action, whether by strike or by lockout, is to cease immediately.

The NIB also warned that no further precipitative action should be taken by either side until the process now set in train is completed.

Irish Ferries human resources manager Alf McGrath said ships could be back running today.

“I would look for the utmost cooperation from SIPTU in developing this so that staff and customers can be relieved,” he said.

SIPTU’s Paul Smyth said the union’s strike committee had debated numerous difficult issues which still remained but had decided to accept the proposals put forward by the NIB.

“We’re going to start advising our members to start joining the ships to get the ships ready to recommence sailing as soon as possible,” he said.