Dublin Bus drivers vote on final proposals to resolve row over cost-saving plan

Drivers at Dublin Bus are balloting on what has been described as a final set of proposals for implementing cost-saving measures at the State-owned transport company.

The trade union Siptu, which represents about half of the 2,300 drivers, said it had not made any recommendations on the proposals.

Union
The National Bus and Rail Union said it had briefed its members on the findings of the most recent independent report on the dispute over cost savings, but had not made a specific recommendation either.

Drivers at the company have already rejected a number of initiatives over the last year or so aimed at generating savings of about €11 million. In August there was a three-day strike at the company over a cost-saving plan.

'Stark'
Last week Minister for Transport Leo Varadkar and Minister of State for Public Transport Alan Kelly said the outlook for Dublin Bus and its employees was "very stark" if a final effort to resolve a dispute over cost savings at the company did not succeed.

The Ministers welcomed the publication of final proposals by former trade union official Noel Dowling and management consultant Ultan Courtney designed to resolve the dispute over cost savings and urged drivers at the company to accept the recommendations.