Rail Users Ireland Forum - View Single Post - [PRESS RELEASE] Rail Users Group Condems Unofficial Strike Action By IE Drivers

Mark Gleeson · 15-05-2006, 13:51

We are taking this as far as possible, remember we knew about this in April and issued a press release and a certain Irish Rail spokes person denied it

There are 4 distinct issues

1 Drivers
Sought reduced hours/higher pay
Rejected rightly by Labour Court

2 Guards
In line with European practice IE want to eliminate guards off the new trains and replace them with a train manager
Legitimate claim by unions but took far too long to resolve

3 New safety standards
Partly due to the new rail safety act and partly to formalise maters Irish Rail want to implement modern operational standards, drivers to receive a formal qualification (NVQ) and to be subject to a higher level of supervision, more frequent medicals, random drink/drugs tests etc. Note this applies across the entire company

4 Training
Drivers are now claiming lack of training on the new trains. Strange that as the control desk is the same and the locomotive on the back is the same

I'd love to sack them all but it ain't an option, privatisation is often used as a solution but the union position is so entrenched we would have to put up with strikes before that could happen, any way it would be the same staff, same agreements and managers on the far side so its no difference

15-05-2006, 13:51	#10
Mark Gleeson Technical Officer Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Coach C, Seat 33 Posts: 12,669	We are taking this as far as possible, remember we knew about this in April and issued a press release and a certain Irish Rail spokes person denied it There are 4 distinct issues 1 Drivers Sought reduced hours/higher pay Rejected rightly by Labour Court 2 Guards In line with European practice IE want to eliminate guards off the new trains and replace them with a train manager Legitimate claim by unions but took far too long to resolve 3 New safety standards Partly due to the new rail safety act and partly to formalise maters Irish Rail want to implement modern operational standards, drivers to receive a formal qualification (NVQ) and to be subject to a higher level of supervision, more frequent medicals, random drink/drugs tests etc. Note this applies across the entire company 4 Training Drivers are now claiming lack of training on the new trains. Strange that as the control desk is the same and the locomotive on the back is the same I'd love to sack them all but it ain't an option, privatisation is often used as a solution but the union position is so entrenched we would have to put up with strikes before that could happen, any way it would be the same staff, same agreements and managers on the far side so its no difference Last edited by Mark Gleeson : 15-05-2006 at 14:19.