Rail unions warn of potential industrial action

Two rail unions have warned of industrial action if talks with Irish rail management at the Workplace Relations Commission, which begin today, do not lead to a reduced working week and better pay for members.

The talks follow the publication of an independent report, commissioned by the Labour Court, on past productivity at the rail company and a cut to the working week. One part of that report benchmarked drivers’ terms and conditions against their counterparts in Britain and the North.

Yesterday, the two driver unions, Siptu and the National Bus and Rail Union, issued a joint statement in which they said the report had thrown up some “challenges” for drivers, not least the necessity to reach a similar level of driving hours as their British counterparts.