CIE unions defer strike action

Industrial action threatened by the CIE group of unions next week has been deferred after talks between unions and the Department of Transport.

Both have agreed to a series of substantive talks during September and October to discuss the future of public transport.

The talks will take place within a framework of securing more money for public transport through

increased efficiency and better value for money for customers according to a statement released yesterday.

CIE unions had been particularly aggrieved at the Minister for Transport Seamus Brennan’s plan to deregulate 25% of the Dublin bus market by early next year.

A campaign of ‘no-fares day’ began last month which saw bus and rail staff refuse to ask passengers for fares resulting in a €1.2m loss in revenue for Dublin Bus, Iarnrod Eireann and Bus Eireann.

Management at CIE had threatened to recoup the lost revenue by docking a day’s pay from employees involved in the protest.