NBRU ‘will not negotiate’ staff transfers to private bus operators

The National Bus and Rail Union (NBRU) has said it will not negotiate the transfer of any of its members in Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann to private operators regardless of commitments or assurances provided in relation to terms and conditions.

In a letter sent last night to Minister for Transport Paschal Donohoe the union also warned that the dispute over the potential privatisation of routes currently operated by the State-owned transport companies could lead to further industrial unrest in the weeks and months ahead.

The NBRU is already planning a limited work stoppage on Friday May 1st.

The trade union Siptu, which also represents staff at Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann, has also warned of possible serious industrial action in the weeks ahead.

In the letter to the Minister, NBRU general secretary Dermot O'Leary disputed Mr Donohoe's view that progress on the issues at the centre of the dispute was made at recent talks at the Labour Relations Commission (LRC).

He acknowledged that growth of the bus market was discussed at the LRC, to see if the Government’s desire for a more diverse bus provision could be met by a simultaneous growth in the bus market.

However, Mr O'Leary stated that the National Transport Authority, while supportive of the idea, stopped short of making commitments on the basis that funding was an issue for Government.

Mr O’Leary said NBRU members had difficulties reconciling the Minister’s comments about future investment, a bigger bus market and stronger State copanies with their real fears that Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann could cease to exist after 2019 when further de-regulation is due to take place.

On Wednesday Taoiseach Enda Kenny called on bus drivers not to stop work on May 1st over proposed privatisation plans.

The dispute centres around plans by the National Transport Authority to put out to tender 10 per cent of routes currently operated by the State-own bus companies. Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann will be permitted to compete for the routes inthe tendering process.

The initiative has been fully backed by the Minister for Transport.

Unions fear the tendering proposals could lead to the privatisation of routes and would result in a deterioration of their members’ terms and conditions if they had to move to private operators.