Rail strikes stem from slow pace of talks, claims union

UNIONS yesterday said the reason for the wildcat strikes was the annoyance among drivers over the slow progress of talks with Iarnród Éireann, which have so far taken two-and-a-half years.

“Drivers are frustrated over the length of time the talks are taking on the substantive issues of reducing the working week and increasing pensionable pay,” said Dermot O’Leary, assistant general secretary of the National Bus & Rail Union (NBRU).

“They feel deadlines come and go without any tangible result.”