Irish Rail postpones dismissal of striking workers
The worker, who is a member of the National Bus Railworkers’ Union (NBRU), agreed yesterday that he would report for normal duty with the company today.
A total of 14 line maintenance workers have blocked track laying on the €105 million Cork-Midleton line for the past two weeks. Four of the picketing workers are members of the NBRU, while the remaining 10 are SIPTU members.
The actions also forced a temporary abandonment of a €5m upgrade on stations and platforms along the Cork-Cobh line.
“Talks are continuing behind the scenes and we are hoping the other NBRU members will also decide to come back to work. Negotiations are also ongoing with SIPTU, but there has been no resolution there yet,” an Iarnród Éireann spokeswoman said.
She said management had decided to withdraw issuing letters of dismissal, which were due to be delivered to picketing workers today, in the hope that a resolution to the two-week-old dispute could be found.
The company said “significant” costs had been incurred by contractors who were expected to start work on refurbishing six stations and 11 platforms along the Cork-Cobh line.
Work on that project was due to start on October 6 and finish on November 10.
Losses are also being incurred along the Cork-Midleton line because a special train, carrying track, has been unable to pass the 24-hour picket which has been mounted at Glounthaune junction.
“The main issue on the Cork-Midleton line is the delay it is causing. There is also a threat of a delay to the Ennis-Athenry line where track laying is also required,” the Iarnród Éireann spokeswoman said.
She added that if the unofficial picket was called off work could commence on both projects.
“Once the train carrying the track is able to get onto the Midleton line we plan to look at starting work on the Cork-Cobh line. It will take a few days to organise that because we will have to get buses organised to replace the trains and have to inform passengers of the line closure.”
The line maintenance workers claim that, contrary to what Iarnród Éireann says, work could still be carried out on the Cork-Cobh line as they are not blocking it.
They took the unofficial action after claiming they should be employed on the track-laying project. However, the Labour Relations Commission decided the job was the work of contractors and Iarnród Éireann’s new works staff.
The rail workers involved have been taken off the payroll.
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