SIPTU has welcomed the announcement by the National Transport Agency (NTA) that Bus Éireann has been awarded the contract to run services in Waterford City following a tendering process. SIPTU Sector Organiser, Willie Noone, said: “Our members employed in Waterford have suffered much anxiety over the past number of years over the decision taken by the NTA to tender out work that was carried out efficiently and economically by them for decades. “The decision by the NTA to continue with Bus Éireann reaffirms that the provision of public transport services in Waterford is been delivered safely, efficiently and economically by the current provider. The decision to tender the services only caused unnecessary stress and worry to all Bus Éireann employees in that location as the whole viability of the local depot was been undermined. “The tendering out work that secured decent pensionable employment to determine whether profit seeking businesses can provide public transport by having employees on insecure precarious, non-pensionable, contracts of employment must cease.” He added: “The Labour Court has endorsed the proposition that a Forum should be established to bring clarity to public transport generally. The fact that Bus Éireann has been awarded the services in Waterford at this time has avoided another unnecessary crisis. “SIPTU is now calling on the Minister for Transport to prioritise the setting up of this Forum in order to address the challenges that affect public transport workers and the travelling public before another crisis emerges.”
SIPTU welcomes award of bus services in Waterford City to Bus Éireann
