Donohue rules out intervention in Iarnród Éireann dispute

Minister for Transport Paschal Donohue said he will not intervene in the industrial dispute between management and unions at Iarnród Éireann which will result in strike action next Friday.

Train services across the country will come to a standstill from 6am until 9am as part of industrial action by drivers.

Mr Donohue said the only place where the matter could be resolved was at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC)

Talks there, however, between management and unions at the company aimed at averting the planned stoppage, which had been underway for several days, broke down early on Saturday morning.

The dispute centres on payment for past productivity measures put in place by drivers.

Iarnród Éireann said the planned work stoppage on Friday as well as a second strike earmarked for Friday, November 6th now seemed set to take place.

“This is despite proposals being tabled, which the company was willing to implement, which would have seen phased productivity measures introduced and implemented and an earnings increase for drivers in tandem with their implementation. This would have been delivered through a productivity allowancepayable to drivers commencing from January 2016, and increasing in January 2017 and January 2018 as further productivity was achieved. The company was willing to implement this with a favourable split of benefit to drivers.”

“Notwithstanding that such an immediate increase in earnings to drivers was available, the trade unions refused to agree to the proposals, instead seeking an earnings increase without productivity being implemented, in the context of a company losing in excess of €1.5 million per month.”

The trade unions Siptu and the NBRU have said the work stoppages will affect all Dart, commuter and intercity services from 6.00 am to 9.00 am.

However the company has warned the industrial action could have knock-on effects later in the day.

The train company said the strikes would cause “needless disruption” at one of the busiest times of the year and worsen its financial position.

Dermot O’Leary, general secretary of the NBRU, said both sides were unable to reach agreement at the WRC.

“We for our part sought to have the issue of previous contributions by train drivers dealt with in a way that would, if satisfactorily addressed, have allowed for the possibility of further discussions on the whole range of issues around the productivity agenda, it is unfortunate that our resolve to deal with the issues was not matched by the company on this occasion.”

He said NBRU members had “no option” but to engage in strike action on Friday.

Siptu said management at the company had failed to “adequately engage” on the issue and that its members had been left with no alternative but to take strike action.

“Despite trade union representatives on several occasions raising the issue at the centre of this dispute, which is the company’s failure to honour a commitment to discuss past productivity, management failed to adequately engage on this subject. No proposals emerged that addressed trade union members’ concerns,” said Siptu organiser Paul Cullen.

Fianna Fáil spokesperson for transport Timmy Dooley called on the Minister for Transport to intervene in the dispute.

“Mr Donohoe has so far taken a hands off approach to this dispute in the false hope that it would resolve itself. This strategy has failed and the prospect of a strike at Irish Rail next Friday is growing by the hour,” he said.