Rail workers threaten strike ballot

Irish Rail workers have threatened strike action over a proposal to move station staff to new jobs on trains.

The proposal is one of a number of “efficiencies” proposed by management who have been in faltering talks with staff about a pay rise.

More than 670 staff are currently employed on station duties which include manning ticket desks but Irish Rail says 83% of tickets are bought online or from self-service vending machines and some staff should be redeployed as customer service agents on board the trains.