Delegates at the NBRU conference in Ballina have voted unanimously for "any measures necessary, up to an including industrial action on a national scale" to prevent the Government selling off CIE properties to finance improvements in public transport.
The general secretary of the union, Mr Peter Bunting, said that he welcomed Ms Mary O'Rourke's commitment to consultation with the unions before any final decisions were taken on the disposal of properties. He also believed her commitment to public transport was sincere.
However, he questioned the commitment not just of the PDs, but of "other elements in Fianna Fail who have no commitment to public transport and would sell off CIE's assets."
Asset-stripping in Britain had allowed the bosses of private bus companies to award themselves salaries of up to £800,000. "We don't want that here," he said.
"We've had the beef scandal, the banks scandal, the insurance scams, the planning scandal. One gets lost in the maze of commissions and investigations into the gombeenism of Irish business and any Irish government should be loath to sell off CIE properties."
He called on the Minister to develop the properties through joint ventures. This was the approach needed if she was genuine about partnership.
Earlier Mr John O'Connor, from Limerick, said that asset-stripping would reduce the potential value of any employee share option scheme in the company. "Scavengers will get rich while we get poorer."