SIPTU has served notice on Dublin Bus management of a series of further work stoppages during September and October in a dispute at the transport company concerning workers’ pay and conditions of employment. At a meeting this morning (Thursday, 15th September) attended by representatives from SIPTU and the other four unions at Dublin Bus a series of dates for further work stoppages was agreed. The stoppages will take place on Tuesday 27th and Wednesday 28th, September. These are in addition to the 48-hour work stoppage already scheduled for next week (Friday 23rd and Saturday 24th September). In October, the work stoppages will take place on Saturday 1st, Wednesday 5th, Friday 7th, Monday 10th, Wednesday 12th, Friday 14th, Tuesday 18th, Wednesday 19th, Monday 24th, Wednesday 26th and Saturday 29th. SIPTU Transport, Energy, Aviation and Construction Division Organiser, Owen Reidy, said: “Despite the fact that we are currently in the third day of strike action resulting from this dispute, it would seem that the management of Dublin Bus and the Department of Transport have little interest in resolving the outstanding issues. “Our members are disappointed that the only response so far from the CEO of Dublin Bus to this dispute has been to call for talks at the Workplace Relations Commission to discuss a Labour Court recommendation that has already been rejected by over 90% of our members. It is not a genuine attempt to find an agreed resolution to this dispute. “The trade unions at Dublin Bus have a responsibility to resolve this dispute. However, this cannot be done without input from management supported by the Department of Transport. What is needed is for all sides to commit to a serious negotiation process and display fresh thinking concerning the funding of Dublin’s public bus system. Workers are no longer prepared to be a soft touch whose pay is suppressed to subsidise a declining state subvention.” SIPTU Organiser, John Murphy, said: “It is not acceptable to ask workers to comply with three comprehensive restructurings of Dublin Bus, which have resulted in the company returning to profitability, for little appreciable reward. What is even less acceptable is that rather than some of these profits being redistributed to a workforce that has not had a pay rise in eight years the National Transport Authority simply takes €2 million from revenues. “Our members hope that their decision to escalate industrial action will focus the minds of those who have a responsibility to resolve this crisis.”
SIPTU serves notice on Dublin Bus of 13 further days of strike action
