[ThomasJ]

RTE News

Cork train drivers to return to work
Thursday, 29 May 2008 14:28
The meeting of train drivers at the centre of the dispute in the south has ended.

Union officials said the workers have voted to return to work at a minute past midnight.

But the unions have stated that they were angry at management comments over the past few days, which portrayed them as mavericks.

A meeting convened by the Labour Relations Commission will now take place next Thursday between management and the unions to thrash out the core issues at the centre of this eight-day dispute which caused havoc for more than 100,000 commuters and travellers.

Management at Iarnród Éireann have welcomed the Cork drivers' decision to resume normal services.

Spokesman Barry Kenny said they are delighted that they will be able to restore full services on the Cork and Kerry routes and added that the LRC meeting and the document accepted by both sides, has strengthened the company's ability to provide service continuity in the future for customers.

The meeting at a Cork city centre hotel began shortly after 11am this morning.

Earlier, a letter Irish Rail management demanded drivers sign has been withdrawn.

The letter instructed drivers not to engage in unofficial industrial action.

But the unions said they will commit to working with management to ensure unofficial action does not happen again.

http://www.rte.ie/news/2008/0529/rail.html