Bus strike proceeds unless fears addressed

Bus driver unions say they are willing to go back to the Labour Relations Commission for further talks — but strike action will not be averted unless all their concerns are addressed.

Transport Minister Paschal Donohoe said that the planned seven days of strike action — starting on the May bank holiday weekend and spreading over dates throughout next month — would cause grave damage to public bus users all over the country and to the companies themselves.

“We need to stand back from the dynamic we saw on Monday [from the unions] and engage in the Labour Relations Commission to deal with these matters,” he said.