Time to talk - Bus strikes threatened

THE prospect of bus services being disrupted for the next two bank holiday weekends is a disproportionate response to the deadlock around the possibility of privatising 10% of the country’s bus routes. Not only will thousands of travellers — many of them tourists — be discommoded, many struggling businesses right around the country will feel the impact.

Siptu opposes privatisation and their plans for stoppages are supported by the NBU in an effort to block the plan.

Industrial relations at these companies seem more than stretched — it took years to agree cost-cutting measures. Nevertheless, all involved should resume discussions before the phoney war becomes a real one. Unions may oppose privatisation plans but that does not mean they have a right to veto them. They are entitled to try to protect jobs and hard-won employment conditions.

This impasse does though support the idea that the Government should offer a vote on an amendment prohibiting the privatisation of Irish Water to avert these kind of disputes.