Bus unions: Minister’s intervention ‘not enough’

Bus driver unions have said Transport Minister Paschal Donohoe’s last-minute intervention ahead of this weekend’s 48 hour stoppage is “welcome but not enough” and said the strike will go ahead as planned.

Mr Donohoe said Bus Éireann and Dublin Bus had agreed to give a commitment that no current employees would be required to transfer to another operator as part of the tendering out of 10% of public services from late 2016. In all, drivers are preparing to engage in seven days of strikes over the next month over what they see as the privatisation of the routes.

“The two companies are immediately available to meet the unions concerned under the auspices of the Labour Relations Commission so that this commitment can be formalised,” the minister said. “This commitment would mean that there is absolutely no threat to the security of tenure or the terms and conditions of the current members of Siptu or the National Bus and Rail Union, arising from the tender process. There is therefore no basis for industrial action by either union against the companies.”