Luas operator shelves plan to use private buses on Thursday

The company that operates the Luas has shelved plans to draft in private buses to replace trams on St Patrick’s Day following a request from the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC).

The move was sought in an effort to create a more positive climate for negotiations which have shown little progress to date with drivers due to strike for the fifth time on Thursday.

However the decision by Luas operator Transdev to accede to the commission’s request heralds a possible breakthrough.

Both Transdev and drivers have been invited to talks at the WRC today amid hopes that re-engagement may be enough to stave off strikes due to take place on seven days in March and April. Drivers had been excluded from the talks while pay negotiations with three non-driver grades proceeded.

Siptu spokesperson Owen Reidy said Transdev’s decision not to go ahead with plans to hire private buses created space to seek a resolution but that a lot of work remained to be done.

Last night Transdev MD Gerry Madden said the company was “in resolution mode and is happy to go to talks tomorrow in the WRC and engage in meaningful discussions”.

Previously Transdev denied it was engaging in strike-breaking by hiring private buses to operate along Luas routes during the planned strike on Thursday.

Talks with the non-driver grades are understood to have made progress and are due to resume this morning.

Separately, Iarnród Éireann management and unions are meeting at the WRC in a bid to resolve a dispute over proposals for a more-frequent, 10-minute Dart service.