GAA fans face travel chaos as rail workers time stoppages for finals

GAA fans are in the line of fire as rail workers draw up plans for three work stoppages over four days in response to moves by Iarnród Éireann to cut pay.

The National Bus and Railworkers’ Union is planning a 48-hour work stoppage starting on Sunday, August 24, which will coincide with the All-Ireland senior football semi-finals in Croke Park.

There is a possibility of Cork and Kerry being pitted against each other.

The union’s plans for follow-up action include 24-hour stoppages on both September 7 and 21 — the dates for the All-Ireland senior hurling and football finals, respectively.

According to the union, the planned stoppages were on days which would “dilute the impact” on the general public.

Iarnród Éireann wants temporary pay cuts ranging from 1.7% to 6.1% to secure the viability of the company, it said.

The union got an 80% mandate in a recent ballot for industrial action and will go ahead with the stoppages if the company implements the pay cuts this month.

General secretary Dermot O’Leary said the option of an all-out strike has been set aside for now on the basis that it would unduly discommode the travelling public, while the option of a work-to-rule was deemed to be insufficient and unmanageable.

He said the initial two-day stoppage will take place in advance of school term and at the end of the traditional summer holiday season.

Iarnród Éireann said it regrets the announcement and has urged all employees and trade unions not to undertake any action which disrupts services, worsens the company’s financial situation, and puts employment in the company at risk.