Union Leaflet on Maynooth line planned increases

[ThomasJ]

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/union-links-maynooth-rail-service-upgrade-to-pay-dispute-resolution-1.3274264
[Restricted Article]

Staff at Iarnród Éireann insist they will not comply with company plans to increase the frequency of services on the Maynooth rail line to connect with Dublin’s new Luas route until a dispute over pay is settled.

The threat is made in a pamphlet that is to be distributed on trains today by members of the National Bus and Rail Union (NBRU) ahead of the first of a series of 24-hour strikes starting on Wednesday.

Iarnród Éireann wants to increase commuter services along the Maynooth line to connect with the Luas cross-city service to Broombridge, just beyond Cabra, which is due to start in December.

Has anyone seen this leaflet?

[Mark Gleeson]

I have a photo of it

NRBU strongly denied a policy of blocking the 10 minute DART service 3 weeks ago but the leaflet clearly says its the official union position to block the 10 minute DART and Maynooth line off peak improvements

[ThomasJ]

It's not going to help their cause to block such badly needed improvements.

[Mark Gleeson]

Its also a breach of the agreements in place, normal changes, new routes, new technology cannot form a basis for a claim

[Inniskeen]

Ten minute interval off peak DART services are unnecessary and will only add to the operational instability caused by inadequate infrastructure.

Maynooth is a different proposition although off peak usage is modest enough at present. Nonetheless doubling the off-peak service to half hourly would probsbly attract additionsl usage especially given the enhanced connectivity that LUAS will provide.

[ACustomer]

I can understand why unions might strike to stop cuts to services, but to attempt to veto extra services for which extra staff may have been recruited is totally inexcusable.

What is worse is the way rail union leaders are given such a free pass by journalists: never any really hard sustained questioning. It would be interesting if RTE tried some tough questioning, as it would show up the union leaders for what they are: total Neanderthals (no offence to Neanderthals who are no longer around to defend themselves)