Irish Rail announcement brings prospect of strike closer

Iarnród Éireann has confirmed it will implement pay proposals next month.

Irish Rail says it has formally advised its trade unions and workers that the company will implement measures to achieve payroll savings across its workforce from Sunday, August 24.

The proposals involve a temporary cut of basic pay - ranging from 1.7% for staff earning less than €56,000 and up to 6.1% for those earning more than €100,000.

The Corporate Communications manager with Iarnród Éireann Barry Kenny said: "The measures are absolutely essential as part of a wider effort to correct the company's finances which are in a very precarious situation."

However, SIPTU organiser Paul Cullen says he expects the 2,000 SIPTU workers at Irish Rail to go on strike.

He said: "It could be a case of a one or two-day rolling strike encompassing some work-to-rule as well.

"Details of that will be given out next week after the rail committee meets."