SIPTU representatives have strongly criticised the refusal by the management of Irish Rail to accept a pay claim, presented to the Labour Court in late May, for staff at the company who have not had any wage rises for more than nine years. SIPTU Organiser, Paul Cullen, said: “Since 2012, staff in Irish Rail have contributed over €25 million to the company through savings as well as providing increases in productivity. Management has acted irresponsibly in making no provision in its revised five-year plan for the company to meet legitimate requests for some pay adjustments, despite profits being made by its rail operations. “Profits from rail operations continue to be spent primarily on infrastructure. This is despite all the ambitious targets set for the rail operations department of the company being exceeded. The position of the company, in its current discussions with unions, of vehemently opposing any improvements for staff is bringing industrial relations in Irish Rail to a new low. This is not just the view of the workers but is also supported by officials in the National Transport Authority and Department of Transport.” He added: “It should be remembered that staff have not received a pay rise in over nine years while during the same period enduring reductions in their earnings and accepting major changes to their working conditions. The stated position of management that it will not consider any pay adjustments and the airing of these views widely in the media has exasperated our members. “If management maintains its intransigence position, we could be facing an industrial relations conflict in another CIE company of a similar nature to that experienced recently in Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann.”
SIPTU criticises attitude of Irish Rail management to legitimate pay claim by staff
