Dublin Bus faces crisis over cost cuts

DUBLIN BUS has vowed to force through a €31 million cost-cutting plan next week despite its main unions voting against it.

Last night SIPTU members voted four-to-one against the plan.

Likewise the National Bus and Rail Union (NBRU) rejected the Labour Relations Commission’s recommendations.

And its general secretary, Michael Faherty, warned if the €31m plan is implemented without union support it would automatically trigger industrial action that NBRU members voted for.

Dublin Bus said it was disappointed and had noalternative but to press ahead with the plan from Sunday, March 29 next.

SIPTU’s branch organiser Wille Noone said it was “unsurprising” workers voted down the plan and said the company should return to negotiations.

Elsewhere talks broke down between stricken aircraft maintenance company SR Technics and SIPTU.

The unions described yesterday’s session as “very charged and emotive” and the matter was referred to the Labour Relations Commission next Tuesday.

SIPTU said SR Technics would not improve its redundancy offer or confirm the shortfall in the pension scheme.

The company is to begin layoffs at the start of April. However a spokesman for SR Technics said it was still committed to working with the unions, and that while the package was limited by a lack of resources, no money would be transferred out of Ireland and workers would benefit from the sale of its hangars.