More stoppages to cripple rail system

A rail strike is to go ahead on Tuesday next after the ATGWU served notice of industrial action, which will result in a series of one-day stoppages throughout the month of May.

The AGTWU represents almost half the country's train drivers and was recently joined by the Irish Locomotive Drivers Association.

They served strike action last Monday after a ballot of members following the failure to reach agreement with senior management of the company on issues concerning representation rights for members.

The Irish Rail company said the move ran counter to existing agreements and claimed that any industrial action taken would be regarded as unofficial.

They also warned that if the series of nine one-day strikes, beginning next Tuesday, went ahead, both passenger and freight services would be disrupted.

ATGWU leader Mick O’Reilly said they had been left with no alternative but to stage the stoppages following a ballot of members.

The Irish Congress of Trade Unions called for the strike threat to be withdrawn as the issue was currently being considered by its disputes committee.