Bus firms to sue driver unions as strike begins

As driver strikes force hundreds of thousands of Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann passengers to turn to alternative travel arrangements for two days, all sides in the dispute are under pressure to find a resolution which will avoid another five days of stoppages this month.

Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann confirmed they are taking legal proceedings against the two driver unions, Siptu and the National Bus and Rail Union, for financial losses and reputational damage incurred through industrial action, which they claim is illegal. They say they face losing millions of euro in revenue as well as fines from the National Transport Authority for failure to provide a service to the public. They hope to secure a hearing in the High Court today.

NBRU general secretary Dermot O’Leary said it was “unfortunate” that the companies had gone down that route. He said that, as far as his union was concerned, the drivers’ action constituted a genuine trade dispute.