Rail strikes loom as pay talks end

Strikes are looming on the country’s rail lines after talks on pay and conditions between management and driver unions broke down at the Workplace Relations Commission.

The two sides had been in talks over the last two days about an independent report which reviewed productivity and made comparisons between the work of drivers here and in Britain.

Ahead of the talks the two driver unions, the National Bus and Rail Union and Siptu, had warned that if the discussions did not result in improved terms and conditions and shorter working weeks for their members, they would ballot for industrial action.