Dublin Bus says pay rises must be based on extra productivity

Management at Dublin Bus has signalled that staff will have to provide additional productivity in return for any new pay increases.

Staff at the State-owned transport company are seeking substantial pay rises as part of a Labour Court hearing that began on Wednesday.

The National Bus and Rail Union (NBRU) is expected to look for the pay parity for Dublin Bus workers with those employed on the Luas light rail system.

The union is expected to seek the payment of a 6 per cent award dating back to a previous social partnership deal in 2009 as well as any rise received by Luas workers in their dispute with their employer, Transdev.

The NBRU is expectedto contend that pay for staff in Dublin Bus has fallen behind that of Luas personnel.

Last week, Luas drivers were offered increases of more than 18 per cent over 33 months as part of a deal aimed at ending industrial action on the light rail system

In a statement, Dublin Bus said it was engaging with trade unions on the matter of pay claims. It said the company would be making a full submission to the Labour Court and declined to publish the submission.

“Dublin Bus is prepared to engage with all grades in the company however any pay claim will have to be made on the basis of productivity.”

The Labour Court hearing on the Dublin Bus pay claim started on Wednesday morning.

Last week staff at Iarnród Éireann represented by the NBRU sought increases of up to 25 per cent, based in part on the pay proposal given to Luas workers last week.