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.

Mr Franks told NBRU general secretary Dermot O’Leary the industrial action had caused considerable damage to both the company and employees “financially and reputationally”.

Mr Franks wrote in the letter to the NBRU general secretary which the union published on its Twitter feed. “The outstanding issues which remain can only be resolved through continued dialogue and in this respect I would like you to know that my door remains open to further discussions,” said Mr Franks.

Last night, Dermot O’Leary said: “This intervention by the chief executive completely dismisses the concerns of our members with regard to the future of the company. He has also chosen to ignore our members emphatic mandate of 80% for strike action. It is absolutely mind boggling to think that he would request that our members would even consider discussions after their pay has been cut.”

He said it was it was only 48 hours since the Transport Minister Paschal Donohoe warned that the next intervention (by a third party) in the dispute would be vital.

“The fact is that our members deem Mr Franks to be directly responsible for the disruption caused to rail services by his actions in imposing a cut to their wages,” he said. “His letter has only served to increase their anger.”