Unions to end bus strike

Normal services are expected to resume in Dublin's northside today after unions at Dublin Bus accepted proposals to end their week-long strike.

Both Siptu and the National Bus and Rail Union (NBRU) announced last night that drivers would be returning to work after recommendations from the Labour Court resolved their dispute with the company.

It centred on the introduction of the new cross-city 4A and 128 routes.

Drivers at the Harristown garage near Dublin airport claimed it could have lengthened their working day as they may have had to begin or end it in the city.

They claimed this was a breach of a previous agreement with Dublin Bus.

The news will come as a relief to around 60,000 passengers who were left stranded for a week over the strike.

However, the NBRU, which represents around half of the 500 workers involved, said while the rosters issue has been resolved and strike action axed, outstanding concerns with the two new routes mean they may not operate today.

All other services are expected to run to schedule.

Trade union chiefs and company bosses were invited to a special sitting of the court yesterday to discuss their grievances separately.

The Labour Court’s recommendations include a stipulation that the new routes - the 4A running from Ballymun to Stradbrooke and the 128 running from Clongriffin to Rathmines – should be staffed on a voluntary basis as far as possible, including the use of volunteers from other garages.

The court also proposed extra travel time be added to the working day for drivers on the new routes.