All-out rail strike to hit All-Ireland final days

Siptu has told Irish Rail it intends to add three more days of work stoppages over the company’s plans to implement a cost-savings plan without its members’ agreement — with two of the days falling on All-Ireland final days.

Irish Rail yesterday said the union has withdrawn a proposed work to rule, but instead proposed a 48-hour work stoppage on September 7/8 and a further 24-hour stoppage on September 21.

The All-Ireland hurling final is due to take place in Croke Park on September 7 — Kilkenny are already in the hurling final. Whichever of Cork and Tipperary wins tomorrow’s semi-final will also be impacted.

The football final is on September 21.

GAA officials in both Kerry and Mayo had already been looking for alternative means of transport for their All-Ireland football semi-final clash in Croke Park, on Sunday, August 24 which is also earmarked for a strike by the National Bus and Rail Union (NBRU) over the same cost-savings plan.

The other football semi-final is between Dublin and Donegal on August 31 so there won’t be the same level of inconvenience caused for fans.

Services on September 7 and 21 were already likely to be severely restricted or stopped completely as the NBRU had already announced work stoppages on those days and it was felt unlikely Siptu members would cross the picket line.

The decision by Siptu, with its 2,000 Irish Rail members, to also strike prompted the company to say it does not expect to be able to operate any services on the work stoppage dates.

The cost savings plan will see temporary pay cuts ranging from 1.7% for staff earning up to €56,000, up to 6.1% for those earning more than €100,000.

The company announced last month it will start imposing the measures, recommended by the Labour Court to apply for 28 months, on August 24.

At this stage, work stoppages are now planned by the NBRU on August 24 and 25 and September 7 and 21. Siptu’s stoppages are on August 25 and September 7, 8 and 21.

Transport Minister Paschal Donohoe has said he will not intervene and that it was down to the two sides to find a solution.

However, Siptu condemned recent comments by Mr Donohoe in which he blamed workers for the likely disruption of the rail service.

A Siptu spokesman pointed to the large contribution staff had made in assisting Irish Rail’s financial position by already accepting €36m in payroll cuts.