Dublin Bus drivers to protest over plan for cutbacks today

DUBLIN BUS drivers and their families will protest outside the Department of Transport today.

The drivers plan a two-hour protest, from 11am, against planned cutbacks at the Dublin Bus company which could result in the loss of 290 jobs.

More than 120 buses are also due to be withdrawn from service.

The protest is being organised by a grassroots body, the Dublin Bus Action Group.

Drivers will hand a letter of protest to Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey in which they set out their claim that company plans will damage livelihoods as well as any prospect of achieving Government aims to persuade people to move out of private cars and into public transport.

Owen McCormack, a bus driver with Dublin Bus, described the company’s plans as “insane . . . especially at a time when many areas of our city have no service at all”. He also said making the workers redundant would cost taxpayers more money than it will save.

“These drivers provide an essential service for this city – we need to look at expanding that service, not reducing it.

“More people may be forced out of their cars due to economic necessity over the coming months. Unfortunately, they will find that the bus services in their areas will no longer be there.

“It is not good enough for the Minister to pretend that this won’t affect peak service or that the system has enough capacity. One-tenth of the network will be scrapped and it will have lasting and damaging effects on our city, country and communities.”

The drivers’ body, the National Bus and Rail Union (NBRU), is balloting for industrial action at both Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann over the proposed cuts to services and manpower. The ballot is due to be completed on February 16th.

Martin Byrne, general president of the union, said that this morning’s protest was not union-backed, but he added: “We can’t stop them doing it.

“It’s understandable they are protesting. There is an awful lot of frustration out there . . .

“We will be counting the results of the ballot on Monday and deciding on what is the appropriate action from there. It may involve a union-organised protest to the Minister’s office.”