[Jamie2k9]

http://www.rte.ie/news/2016/0516/788...ck-pay-scheme/

Luas operator Transdev has suspended the sick pay scheme for workers who have been in dispute with the company over pay.

In a letter sent to SIPTU on Friday, Managing Director Gerry Madden said that the absence rate for Luas drivers is currently running at approximately 12%, with over 10% of that attributable to the sick pay scheme.

He said this compares to an average absence figure for drivers of approximately 4.5% in 2015.

Mr Madden said that such a level of absence is imposing significant additional costs on the company and is highly disruptive to customers.

The letter said the company is now invoking an existing agreement which states that if the absence level rises above 5%, management has the right to suspend individuals from the regular sick pay scheme "in its entirety or as otherwise may be stated".

The company said is suspending all individual drivers from the regular sick pay benefit scheme and will not be processing any regular sick pay payments in the May payroll and thereafter pending a return to normal absence levels.