Bid to avert Friday’s rail strike

Iarnród Éireann and its unions will meet at the Labour Relations Commission this morning in an attempt to avert strike action that would paralyse services across the south of the country this bank holiday weekend.

SIPTU and the National Bus and Rail Union served strike notice on the company at the beginning of the month and that notice expires at midnight on August 1.

The action by permanent way staff, who look after line inspection and maintenance of the rail lines, will begin immediately on Friday.

The dispute is over the new Cork-Midleton rail line.

The unions representing the permanent way staff say they should have been offered the opportunity to work on the development of the new line as it forms their part of their “core duties”.

They say that right of first refusal was guaranteed to them in a Labour Court recommendation issued in January. However, the company says that work is part of a new capital contract and they are entitled to award it to other workers.

This debate is the latest in a series of fall-outs between the company and its line maintenance staff in the south of the country.

There have been various stoppages and threats of stoppage in the last few years over the terms and conditions of the staff.

If the action goes ahead on Friday, it could disrupt rail services to and from stations in Cork, Limerick and Kerry.

Last night Iarnród Éireann said it was optimistic that this morning’s talks could resolve the dispute before the travelling public are disrupted.