SIPTU has agreed to a request by the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) to refer the dispute at Irish Rail to the Labour Court. SIPTU Organiser, Paul Cullen, said: “Following a request by the WRC that this dispute be immediately referred to the Labour Court, union representatives involved in the talks process decided to suspend the scheduled work stoppage by train drivers this morning (Friday, 6th November).“The continuing intransigence shown by the management of Irish Rail in refusing to directly negotiate with unions concerning past productivity has only increased the anger and frustration of our members."He added: “The talks leading up to the suspension of the scheduled industrial action by our members did not end in agreement. However, in deference to the request by the WRC to attend an early hearing of the Labour Court it was felt that the suspension of the work stoppage was in the best interests of our members.“SIPTU will be presenting its case that the management of Irish Rail must honour its commitments in relation to past productivity, which were agreed in 2014, at the forthcoming Labour Court hearing.“We are requesting as early a hearing as possible and in the coming days will be communicating with our members on the nature of the discussions that led up to the decision to call off today’s work stoppage.”
SIPTU supports Labour Court intervention in Irish Rail dispute
