NBRU to strike if Dublin bus part-privatised

The National Bus and Railworkers Union has voted overwhelmingly in favour of strike action over Transport Minister Seamus Brennan's plans to privatise 25% of Dublin Bus.

The union said 94% of its 3,600 members voted in favour of industrial action if Mr Brennan pressed ahead with his plan to sell off a quarter of Dublin Bus routes as part of the reform of CIE.

The NBRU said the move would lead to job losses and an erosion of standards for the workers forced to move from Dublin Bus to the new private companies.

It also said the minister should interpret the NBRU ballot as a warning that he should return to the negotiating table rather than forcing his ideas on transport workers.

The NBRU has urged the Government to pursue its planned reform of CIE through the Public Transport Forum, which was established by the Fianna Fail-Progressive Democrats coalition.