Teething trouble for bus routes

TWO new Dublin Bus routes due to start on Monday face huge disruption after drivers last night voted against operating them until the company meet their demands.

The new routes are being introduced from Harristown depot to enhance services in the Ballymun and newly developed North Fringe/Clongriffen areas.

The existing Route 4 from Ballymun to Blackrock will be upgraded to introduce a new Route 4A, which will operate from Ballymun to Stradbrook Road, Blackrock.

The other route 128 will operate from the Clongriffen park and Ride facility, via the Malahide Road, through the city centre to Rathmines/Palmerstown Park.

Dublin Bus wants drivers from Harristown depot to start, break and finish in the city centre rather than at the depot on occasion so that it can keep schedules as tight as possible so it can offer a more frequent service.

However, the drivers say by forcing them to start and finish their driving duties in the city centre which is 11km away from their depot, the company is breaching a 2004 agreement which said they would be finishing all their duties in the depot.

They claimed management was trying to cut costs on the back of extending drivers’ working hours.

However, a company spokeswoman said: “Dublin Bus and the trade unions have gone through a lengthy negotiation process in relation to these new routes.

“In addition, the issue has been processed through the full industrial relations procedures, which resulted in a Labour Court recommendation upholding the company’s position on October 22, 2007.”

Despite that recommendation, the two unions representing the 500 drivers, SIPTU and the NBRU, balloted their members for two days resulting in respective total votes of 59% and 68% of members in favour of industrial action if the company tried to start the routes without agreement.

Acting general secretary Michael Faherty said: “We remain available for talks to achieve a resolution to this dispute and avoid unnecessary disruption to services for the public.”