[Article] All out bus strike on the way??

[ThomasJ]

Not directly a Rail issue yet, but will have a major impact on passengers making bus connections etc. if it happens

From Breaking News http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/mhsnsncwcwgb/

Angry drivers tonight voted to go on strike if Bus Éireann and Dublin Bus enforce cost cutting plans that will axe hundreds of jobs.

The National Bus and Rail Union (NBRU) said it has received an overwhelming mandate from members in both companies to engage in industrial action, up to and including all-out strike, if they proceed with cost effectiveness recovery plans without agreement.

The massive wave of job cuts which could see around 600 workers laid off, including 270 drivers.

Other measures proposed by the companies are changes in work practice which the union claims would have the potential to decimate surviving members' earnings, severely cut services on some routes, and eliminate other routes.

The NBRU said these would also have a significant negative impact on the travelling public.

A special meeting of the union's national executive council will meet tomorrow, after which it will make a formal announcement regarding future industrial action

NBRU general secretary Michael Faherty said after the completion of the ballot both companies are aware that negotiations on any changes cannot commence until such time as the issue of the sacking of the 270 drivers has been satisfactorily addressed.

Last month, Dublin Bus unveiled plans to cut 290 jobs and withdraw 120 buses while Bus Éireann was targeting 322 job losses and taking 150 buses off the roads.

And RTE News http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/0216/bus.html

Bus and rail workers have voted for industrial action if Bus Éireann and Dublin Bus proceed without agreement with plans to cut back services and lay off 270 drivers.

The National Bus & Rail Union said it received an overwhelming mandate from its members for industrial action up to and including all-out strike.

The NBRU is convening a special meeting of its national executive council tomorrow to formally decide future action.

AdvertisementIt will make an announcement following the meeting.

[ThomasJ]

It has been announced 28th of february and another 2 planned for the 9th and 10th of march (monday and tuesday)

Bus drivers at Bus Éireann and Dublin Bus will mount a one-day strike on Saturday 28 February in protest at 600 planned redundancies at the two State companies.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the national executive of the National Bus and Rail Union (NBRU) this afternoon.

A further two-day strike is planned for 9 and 10 March.

AdvertisementNBRU General Secretary Michael Faherty said the stoppage on 28 February would coincide with the sacking of 160 drivers at Dublin Bus.

In a statement Dublin Bus says it has not yet received official notification of any industrial action by the drivers' unions.

The company says it has no choice but to implement the cost-cutting plan at the start of next month.


The Minister for Transport has said in the Dáil that he wants an efficient, effective transport service for the country, which meets the needs of customers.

Noel Dempsey said he had secured an investment of over €313m and there was not anymore money to give to the bus and rail companies.

He was responding to Labour Deputy Tommy Broughan who said the workers at Dublin Bus had voted to go on strike because of his handling of public transport policy. He asked the Minister why there was no voluntary redundancy option at Dublin Bus.


Taxi drivers staged another protest in Dublin today calling for a moratorium on new licences, as they say there is not enough work for the number of drivers now available in Dublin.

http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/0217/transport.html

if you think packed trains in rush hour are bad enough at the moment wait till the 9th and 10th a monday and tuesday when normal bus passengers are using the trains. I have a feeling this is going to be hell and hope to god train drivers dont join them.

And guess what rugby match is on the 28th?

[ThomasJ]

From RTE http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/0218/transport.html

SIPTU shop stewards have decided that there will be an all-out strike at Dublin Bus from 1 March if management pushes forward with cost-cutting measures.

The union made the decision after receiving a mandate from its members.

Yesterday, bus drivers at Bus Éireann and Dublin Bus said they would mount a one-day strike on Saturday 28 February in protest at 600 planned redundancies at the two State companies.

A further two-day strike was planned for 9 and 10 March.

Separately, Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey has told the Oireachtas transport committee that passengers have been deserting CIÉ bus services at a dramatic rate over the last six to eight months.

He said that was despite the Government giving it €313m in public money - a subsidy that was up 34% since 2002.

The minister also warned that the CIÉ bus companies could lose €100m this year unless costs were cut.

Mr Dempsey said nobody wanted to see bus strikes but there had to be reform.

[sublimity]

Well Irish Rail will be happy if this materialises.
Better start lenghtening those trains!

[ThomasJ]

Originally Posted by sublimity

Well Irish Rail will be happy if this materialises.
Better start lenghtening those trains!

The problem is they cant! They haven't got the resources. For the likes of the Maynooth line overcrowding is matched by the 66/67/37/39 packed services there is no doubt people if they dont drive the work will take the train. I can see this being bad all right!

Of course only some of us have the priviledge of being able to travel by rail!

[RadarControl]

Is there any chance that the Irish Rail NBRU members will go out in sympathy strike?

[Thomas Ralph]

At least they've exempted CIÉ staff from the public service pension levy.

[markpb]

Originally Posted by RadarControl

Is there any chance that the Irish Rail NBRU members will go out in sympathy strike?

They're not legally allowed because they're not members of the same company.

[Mark Gleeson]

Originally Posted by Thomas Ralph

At least they've exempted CIÉ staff from the public service pension levy.

Pension contributions inside Irish Rail by staff either have increased or will be

[Thomas Ralph]

Originally Posted by Mark Gleeson

Pension contributions inside Irish Rail by staff either have increased or will be

Well, not as far as the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2009 is concerned, but (I would expect) through another measure.

[Mark Gleeson]

It dates from November, seeking a doubling of contribution to prop the fund up

[Mark Gleeson]

Its been called off

Dublin Bus drivers' strike called off

SIPTU has called off a planned strike by bus drivers at Dublin Bus, it was confirmed this afternoon.

Drivers were due to go on strike on Sunday over the company's cost cutting plan, which would see 290 jobs axed and 120 buses withdrawn from service.

SIPTU said the strike had been deferred because the company had agreed not to implement the job cuts, creating space for talks to take place.

http://www.independent.ie/breaking-n...f-1653526.html
NBRU saying nothing

[Colm Moore]

Originally Posted by Mark Gleeson

NBRU saying nothing

They haven't suggested a strike though, have they?

EDIT: Strike cancelled.

http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/0225/dublinbus.html

Strikes averted at Dublin Bus
watch listen Wednesday, 25 February 2009 21:22

The two main unions at Dublin Bus have called off their planned strike action pending the outcome of fresh talks with the company's management on Monday.

The National Bus and Rail Union had planned a one-day strike on Saturday over the company's plans to cut 270 jobs.

SIPTU had planned a continuous strike from Sunday, but both have been called off following talks at the Labour Relations Commission today.
Advertisement

Management at Dublin Bus said they have agreed to postpone their cost-cutting plans to allow new talks to begin at the LRC on Monday.

SIPTU Branch Organiser Willie Noone said: 'The action by our members has been deferred after the company agreed to enter direct talks with us under the auspices of the LRC over its cost-cutting plan.

'The company has also agreed not to implement threatened job cuts and this has helped create a space within which talks can take place.'

NBRU General Secretary Michael Faherty said: 'We outlined our opposition to the commission in relation to the sacking of 160 drivers on Saturday and reiterated our position that voluntary severance should be made available to senior drivers instead.

'The Labour Relations Commission then issued a proposal, which included agreement that voluntary severance would form part of future negotiations, and asked both parties to suspend any action or actions for a period of one week.

'The week will be used by all parties, under the auspices of the LRC, to engage in intensive discussions on the company's Cost Effectiveness Plan.

'In the light of this the NBRU has decided to suspend the strike action planned for Saturday.'

[Colm Moore]

http://www.dublinbus.ie/en/News-Cent...th-March-2009/

Planned Service Changes Deferred – Updated 6th March 2009
Friday, March 06, 2009

Dublin Bus wishes to inform customers that proposed service changes have been deferred to allow for continuing discussion between the company and trade unions at the Labour Relations Commission.

[ThomasJ]

so were back to square one following last nights rejection of the proposals

From The Herald

http://www.herald.ie/national-news/c...s-1680266.html

COMMUTERS are set to be hit with strikes at Dublin Bus from March 29, if the company pushes ahead with cost-cutting plans.

Dublin Bus is expected to implement its original savings proposals after workers rejected a compromise agreement.

As part of restructuring proposals negotiated at the Labour Relations Commission, 160 jobs would have been saved and 80 older drivers would have been allowed to take voluntary redundancy.


rejection

But members of Siptu and the NBRU overwhelmingly voted against the LRC deal.

This means the company is likely to revert to its original plan, which includes making 160 newly recruited drivers redundant.

However, unions have said strike action will be implemented if Dublin Bus goes ahead with the cuts.

Willie Noone of Siptu said, for the strike to be averted, the company would have to engage "proactively with the trade union".

Dublin Bus said the proposals represented "a very reasonable and practical compromise" in the light of its current financial situation.

[ThomasJ]

and the independent
http://www.independent.ie/national-n...e-1679736.html

Bus strike looming as drivers reject job-saving compromise
Friday March 20 2009

THE prospect of crippling strikes at Dublin Bus resurfaced last night after workers overwhelmingly rejected a plan to resolve a dispute over cutbacks.

SIPTU and National Bus and Rail Union (NBRU) members rejected proposals agreed by their representatives at the Labour Relations Commission (LRC) last week, which would have prevented the lay-off of 160 probabtionary drivers.

About 90pc of NBRU members voted against the proposals, while SIPTU workers were 80pc opposed to the compromises.

It is understood that major changes to work practices, including the introduction of a new shift pattern from Friday to Monday, led to the proposals being defeated.

The new shift pattern would have dramatically cut drivers' overtime payments.

Immediately after the result, Dublin Bus, which plans to axe 120 buses, expressed disappointment at the result but said its cutbacks could wait no longer and it would press ahead with lay-offs and changes to its services on March 29.Both unions, which represent 2,800 drivers, have a mandate for strike action if the company goes ahead with the cost-cutting measures without agreement with drivers.

SIPTU branch organiser Willie Noone said he was pessimistic about any chances of a reconciliation, even involving the Labour Court.

"I think we are heading to a dispute on March 29," he said.

"Our view would be that Dublin Bus should use the Labour Court before that date. Nevertheless, I don't believe at this stage that the Labour Court could hugely change the proposals."

NBRU general secretary Michael Faherty said the impact of the cost-cutting plans was "so severe" that members felt they had no alternative but to reject the proposals.


Obstacles

He said that key obstacles to agreement were the impact on drivers' wages and conditions, the reduction in the bus fleet and the effect on commuters.

SIPTU spokesman Mr Noone said: "Quite clearly, drivers do not accept 120 buses must be taken out of the fleet and they are also very anxious to protect their job security.

"Our members also remain adamant that the company does not attempt to implement any cost-cutting plans until negotiating procedures are exhausted."

Dublin Bus said the proposals represented "a very reasonable and practical compromise" given its serious financial situation and the economic climate.

"Under the LRC proposals, all driving staff would retain their current pay rates and there would have been no requirement for compulsory redundancy," the company said.

"Dublin Bus, like all other companies, faces significant challenges as a result of the current economic climate, and projected losses for 2009 will be €31m unless urgent action is taken."

It said its cost effectiveness plan, first presented to unions on January 16, could no longer be delayed and would be implemented from March 29.

- Anne-Marie Walsh and Brian Hutton

[ThomasJ]

And RTE http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/0320/dublinbus.html

Dublin Bus strike may follow vote

Friday, 20 March 2009 13:13

Dublin Bus passengers face a possible strike if the company goes ahead with its cost-cutting plan.

SIPTU branch organiser Willie Noone said on RTÉ's Morning Ireland that industrial action will take place from Sunday 29 March if the company goes ahead without unions' agreement.

The two unions representing drivers at the company voted to reject a proposed agreement reached with the Labour Relations Commission on cost-cutting at Dublin Bus.

Members of SIPTU and the NBRU were said to be concerned about the implications of taking 120 buses out of the fleet, changes to work practices and job security.

Dublin Bus expressed disappointment at the outcome of the ballots and said it had now no option but to implement its cost effectiveness plan.

[RadarControl]

Does anybody know if Irish Rail or Luas will be taking part in the National Strike on the 30th of March? As far as I know the staff in Luas while unionised signed non-strike agreements with Veoila management when they started. Dublin Bus will be out on strike.

[Mark Gleeson]

No word of any strike within Irish Rail, no ballot taken => no strike

[Mark Hennessy]

Originally Posted by RadarControl

Does anybody know if Irish Rail or Luas will be taking part in the National Strike on the 30th of March? As far as I know the staff in Luas while unionised signed non-strike agreements with Veoila management when they started. Dublin Bus will be out on strike.

I was just about to ask that!

I certainly hope that Irish Rail staff have the sense not to strike next Monday but I am still expecting disruption.