Disruption in Cork

[Mark Gleeson]

Originally Posted by Irish Examiner

28 May 2008

FG calls for rail drivers to be fired

By Stephen Rogers and Paul O’Brien
AS a seventh day of train stoppages to and from Cork looked certain today, there were calls last night for the drivers at the centre of the dispute to be sacked.

At the time of going to press, the Labour Relations Commission had not been able to find a formula between Iarnród Éireann and its driver unions which would persuade 40 Cork drivers to return to work.

In fact sources close to the LRC exploratory talks reported that the two sides were further apart than ever after more than seven hours of talks. That means a further 15,000 rail passengers will today be looking for alternative travel arrangements yet again. Since the strike started last Thursday, the dispute has affected 90,000 passengers and cost the company €2.5m.

Iarnrod Eireann wants the drivers to return to work on terms and conditions it agreed with the unions last March. It also wants written guarantees there will be no further unofficial industrial action. The Cork drivers are not prepared to give any such guarantees.

They say that to agree to that ties their hands.

Last night the company’s calls for a “no strike” clause were given political backing by Transport Minister Noel Dempsey. While the Minister claimed it would be inappropriate for him to intervene, he made it clear where he believed the blame lay.

“This is unofficial action and is not sanctioned by either trade union in the company,” he told the Dáil. “It is the action of a number of individuals in the Cork-Kerry area. Some other people went out in sympathy. The sympathy should be with the travelling public, not those who do not appear to want to work towards a solution.”

Mr Dempsey said that “no strike” clauses would improve confidence in public transport and ensure their efficient operation.

Fine Gael’s Fergus O’Dowd was more blunt: “They should be sacked; that’s the answer.”

Mr Dempsey said that might be the solution but warned: “It may also cause a greater problem.”

Cork drivers were again insisting yesterday that they had been targeted by the company. The dispute began last Thursday because one of their number refused to carry out duties for which he was not rostered. He was taken off the payroll for his refusal. The drivers in Cork’s Kent Station claim there are train services not being run all over the country every day, yet those drivers responsible are not removed from the payroll and are not asked to sign slips of paper guaranteeing they will not engage in unofficial strike action.

The company disagrees. It claims there have been issues with the Cork drivers, — whose average salary is €52,000 — for some time and they are no longer prepared to have unreliable service from Cork stations.

Today 19 intercity services to and from Cork and Tralee will be cancelled, plus all commuter services.

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