Thousands of bus and rail passengers will face further disruption at the end of the month after transport unions announced plans for a second CIÉ staff walk-out on Monday, January 27th.
Bus and rail workers will withdraw their services in protest at Government plans to break up the public transport company. A similar protest took place on Wednesday of this week with staff walking off the job between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. causing problems for commuters.
In a joint statement released this evening, both SIPTU and the National Bus and Rail Union (NBRU) blamed the Minister for Transport, Mr Seamus Brennan, for failing to meet the unions on the issue, a situation they claim has left them with "no option" but to walk off the job.
Mr Liam Tobin NBRU General Secretary and Mr Noel Dowling, SIPTU National Industrial Secretary, said: "At a time when we are engaged in partnership talks - including how to provide for more sophisticated systems for consultation in the workplace - it is regrettable that the Minister for Transport should op to conduct dialogue with CIE workers throughout the media"
"The NBRU and SIPTU now call on the Minister to take immediate steps to arrange a meeting with the Unions."
The unions have indicated that every effort will be made to lessen the inconvenience caused to the travelling public.
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