Bus drivers will down their tools, so to speak, and walk away in protest this coming weekend, despite pleas by Transport Minister Paschal Donohoe.
Minister Donohoe made a last ditch attempt to avoid the stoppage by guaranteeing that no driver would be asked to transfer to a private operator when 10 per cent of bus routes are put out to tender.
But last night, Siptu and National Bus and Rail Union (NBRU) stated their refusal to call off the industrial action, which is due to kick off on Friday.
Dermot O’Leary, general secretary of the NBRU said “Whilst it is to be welcomed that the minister is prepared to acknowledge some of our members’ concerns, he needs to move towards turning all this positivity into a workable solution, which will not alone address the issues he has addressed today, but also those that concern the future of both bus companies and the CIE Group as a whole.”
In the meantime, Bus Éireann chief executive Martin Nolan put out a warning that strike action might dire financial consequences, implying a loss of up to €5m. If this did come to pass, management would have to “seriously consider” measures to protect the company and all of its employees, according to him.
Paddy Doherty, chief executive of Dublin Bus, claimed that the strike would cost €600,000 each day, and potentially disrupt the travel plans of 450,000 passengers.