Further strike action by union members at Irish Rail is “not going to sort out anything other than do damage to the company,” Taoiseach Enda Kenny insisted this morning.
Speaking to reporters in Co Mayo, Mr Kenny said he hoped the mediation process with the Labour Relations Commission is able to continue.
“There are very well tried and tested State mechanisms for dealing with disputes,” Mr Kenny said.
He added: “I would urge management and unions to continue their talks at the LRC where hopefully a resolution can be found”.
Talks will resume today at the Labour Relations Commission aimed at preventing a further two-day train strike scheduled for next Sunday and Monday.
The trAde union Siptu and the National Bus and Rail Union (NBRU) as well as management at Iarnród Éireann held exploratory talks at the Labour Relations Commission on Saturday.
The dispute centres on the unilateral introduction by management at the company of temporary pay cuts of between 1.7 and 6 per cent for staff from Sunday of last week. The pay cuts will remain in place for 28 months.
Arriving at the talks at the LRC the director of human resources at the rail company Ciaran Masterson said all options were on the table. He said “if we manage our business effectively and efficiently, there is always a possibility of averting any dispute for the weekend”.
Owen Reidy of Siptu said that for the planned strike to be called off the company would have to make a move and freeze the pay cuts. He said he would have to wait to see what management had to say in the talks.
NBRU general secretary Dermot O’Leary said that it had told the LRC at talks at the weekend that there were 3 parties to the current dispute, the management, the unions and the Government.
Management says it had no choice but to put in place the payroll savings given the precarious financial state of the State-owned rail operator.
The company said talks had been underway with unions for 20 months on a cost-saving plan but this had been rejected by the NBRU and Siptu.
The Irish Times reported on Saturday that an internal Department of Transport document said Iarnród Éireann was facing losses of €20 million even after the implementation of the controversial temporary pay cuts for staff.
Unions have expressed concern that if they agreed to the current pay reductions, it would not address the overall financial difficulties facing the company and management would seek further cuts in the future.
Unions have contended the Government’s subvention to the company, which has fallen significantly over recent years, needs to be reconsidered as part of any solution.
About 160,000 passengers were affected by a two-day strike at the train company last week and a similar number are likely to face disruption if the next round of industrial action goes ahead on September 7th and 8th.
Minister for Transport Paschal Donohoe said last week's strike at Iarnród Éireann cost the company €1.5 million.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Charlie Flanagan said it was “essential” Iarnrod Eireann and its trade unions reached a settlement.
Mr Flanagan said: “I think it is absolutely essential that it be resolved through the LRC, on the basis so far, that management and unions have been unable to broker a settlement.”
“I believe it is essential that a settlement be reached; in a strike action situation there are really no winners, there is great discomfort caused to commuters and to those using the service,” Mr Flanagan remarked.
