Westport train drivers to go on strike tomorrow

Passengers on the Westport to Dublin rail line face disruption for the second Friday in a row tomorrow following a decision by six drivers to strike.

Train services are likely to be cancelled and replaced by buses on the route for 24 hours. Last week more than 2,000 people were inconvenienced in a similar action.

The drivers involved are members of the SIPTU and ATGWU but both unions stress the action is unofficial. SIPTU representative, Mr Tony Tobin, is heading to Co Mayo for talks in an effort to avert the strike.

The six drivers in Westport are in dispute with Iarnród Éireann over a €100 a week pay rise. They also claim that the company owes them €11,000 in back pay under the new nationally-agreed rostering arrangements.

The company is refusing to make payments without changes to the roster for drivers based in Westport. These drivers work a 28-hour week compared with the 48-hour average week worked by all other drivers, the company says.

But the train drivers have rejected this view saying their rosters prove their average week is just under 40 hours. In a statement they rejected an offer of Labour Court talks and accused the company of attempting to "humiliate" them.

Following last week's dispute Iarnród Éireann is expected to initiate legal proceedings against the ATGWU union to recoup lost revenue due to last week's unofficial stoppage.