The threat of disruption to thousands of Dublin Bus passengers due to planned strike action by drivers from this Sunday has receded after the Labour Court intervened in the dispute.
Both the National Bus and Rail Union and Siptu called off the planned strike action, which was called in response to the company plans to make about 160 drivers redundant and cut bus services.
“At the request of the Labour Court, Dublin Bus has agreed to defer the implementation of its cost-effectiveness plan due to be implemented this Sunday March 29th,” the company said in a statement.
It said the implementation of the plan was “urgently required” to address projected loses of €31 million for this year.
The company has accepted the invitation to attend a Labour Court hearing on Tuesday next week.
Siptu branch organiser Willie Noone said the threatened strike action by Siptu drivers on Sunday would not proceed.
But Mr Noone said the Labour Court faced a “major challenge in finding a resolution to the dispute that could meet the company’s objectives without inflicting hardship on his members and the travelling public”.
The NBRU also called off its industrial action in response to the Labour Court intervention.
General secretary Michael Faherty said: “As the company has agreed not to implement its cost-effectiveness plan before the Labour Court has an opportunity to try and resolve the dispute we will not need to proceed with our planned action.”