Dublin Bus passengers face strikes within weeks
The National Executive Council of the National Bus and Rail Union which represents 1,600 of the drivers at Dublin Bus, accused management of remaining silent on the issue of pay increases, in spite of the fact a Labour Court recommendation of 8.25% over three years has been “emphatically” rejected by its members.
NBRU is hoping to meet with the other unions in the company later this week to see if they are willing to engage in co-ordinated strikes later this month or early next month. Those stoppages are likely to be 24 or 48 hours long.
It is likely the positions taken by the unions could affect the talks process due to resume with Bus Éireann next month, with similar action potentially on the cards there.
NBRU general secretary, Dermot O’Leary, said: “It would appear the company [Dublin Bus] have decided to ignore both the overwhelming rejection of the pay on offer from the court and the massive mandate for industrial action received from our members.”
He said the union’s national executive council has formed the view that “nothing short of actual strike action will contribute to a resolution of our members’ legitimate claim for a significant pay rise”.
There have been demands from transport unions for increases in the region of 18%-30% in some quarters, not least in light of the fact that Luas drivers succeeded, albeit after a long campaign of strikes, in securing increases of approximately 18% over four years.
Last night, Dublin Bus said it “notes” the result of the ballot by members of the NBRU last week, and the outcome of the trade union’s meeting yesterday: “The ballot process is still ongoing and we will await the results of the ballots by the remaining trade unions this week before considering the outcome in full.”
