Rail union rejects chief’s plea for talks

A union at the heart of the Irish Rail strike which stopped services for 160,000 people last weekend has rejected a request from the boss of the company to call off action planned for next week and come back into talks.

In a letter to the National Bus and Rail Union dated August 26, Irish Rail chief executive David Franks said the temporary staff pay cuts at the heart of the dispute had been implemented last weekend.

He urged the union to reconsider further stoppages planned for September 7, 8, and 21. Those stoppages will hit both the All Ireland hurling and football finals.