Commuter rail services face disruption amid dispute

Peak morning commuter rail services could be disrupted by a train driver stoppage ahead of the bank holiday weekend if no resolution is found to a dispute between drivers and Irish Rail management.

The disruption could spread to intercity services if the row over productivity is still not resolved.

The National Bus and Rail Union (NBRU) and Siptu, which between them represent drivers at Irish Rail, last night confirmed their members had voted, more than 90% in favour, for industrial action. Shop stewards from the unions will meet this Thursday to decide on which form the action will take.

Just over a year ago, Irish Rail sought to implement pay cuts, blaming falling income since the onset of the economic crisis. Unions responded with two days of work stoppages, crippling services.

Following talks at the Labour Relations Commission (LRC), a deal was hammered out which reduced the duration of temporary pay cuts. It also committed the parties to attending a “cost management committee” and talks on productivity.

Last month, again at the LRC, the unions sought engagement from management on past productivity which, they said, formed part of the 2014 agreement. They said the company refused to engage, and talks broke down.

Last night, NBRU general secretary Dermot O’Leary said the LRC agreement was quite clear with regard to discussing past productivity.

Siptu organiser Paul Cullen said his members still hoped management would “step back from the brink” and honour the terms of the agreement by negotiating on past productivity.

Sources indicated that on Friday, two weeks’ notice could be served on Irish Rail of a peak-hours morning stoppage on commuter and DART services on a date around October 23. If the situation remains unresolved, a further stoppage, this time involving intercity trains, would be held two weeks later.

Irish Rail said it is still incurring losses of over €1m a month. It said it remains available to re-engage in talks on productivity but any talks should be to identify verifiable cost savings through defined productivity measures.