Strike likely as Luas workers set to reject rise

Luas workers look set to “roundly reject” pay increases of up to almost 19% in a ballot which is due to be concluded later today.

Informed sources say the drivers, who had initially been seeking up to 53% increases, have been giving negative feedback to their union Siptu about the proposed increases which were arrived at following prolonged negotiations at the Workplace Relations Commission between worker representatives and Transdev which operates the Luas network.

If the ballot, which is due to be concluded at 5pm, does return a rejection of the terms — and sources have indicated it could yield a vote of more than 90% against — it would almost certainly mean a 48-hour strike planned for Easter Sunday and Monday would go ahead.

It would also leave little time to find a resolution which would prevent further two-day stoppages planned for April 2-3 and 23-24.

Even Siptu admitted in the hours following last week’s discussions that “the WRC has produced proposals that it believes are the best achievable in relation to finding a solution to this dispute”.

The sources said they were unsure as to how a resolution can now be found and that weeks or even months of unrest could be in the offing.

Workers at Irish Rail, Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann are watching developments at the Luas closely, as they are looking for any pay increases on the tram network to be applied to them.