Bus dispute threatens travel during Pope’s visit
BUS Éireann drivers may refuse to co-operate with plans for extra services during the papal visit if they fail to get a pay rise.
Union sources revealed that they could object to taking on extra work during Pope Francis’s visit if it does not look like they are going to get an increase of almost 4pc. The pay rise being sought would mirror wage hikes given to staff at the other CIÉ companies. Talks are due to begin today.
Meanwhile, Ryanair passengers may now face a summer of strikes at home and abroad as unions are expected to announce more stoppages, which could include a further three dates at the end of July.
Cabin crew sources said unions may name dates for strikes in Italy, Belgium, Spain and Portugal today.
BUS ÉIREANN drivers could refuse to co-operate with plans to put on extra services during Pope Francis’s visit if they fail to get a pay rise.
Union sources revealed that they could object to taking on extra work during the papal visit next month if it does not look as if they are going to get an increase of almost 4pc.
The pay rise being sought by unions would mirror wage hikes given to staff at the other CIÉ companies.
Talks are due to begin with driver representatives at the Workplace Relations Commission today on a review of wages at the bus company.
Public-transport services are likely to be stretched to capacity during Pope Francis’s visit so any refusal to operate extra buses could seriously disrupt many people’s travel plans.
The Pope is visiting Ireland on August 25 and 26 as part of the World Meeting of Families.
His schedule will include a visit to the President at Áras an Uachtaráin, the Capuchin Day Centre and the Pro-Cathedral in Dublin.
He will fly to Knock and return to Dublin to say Mass at the Phoenix Park ahead of a farewell ceremony, before returning to the Vatican in Rome.
Staff at Bus Éireann are determined to win a pay increase. It is understood that mechanics and staff in the maintenance division have had their Sunday premium payments restored to double time following cuts.
But Bus Éireann has warned the whole operation is under threat “on a number of fronts” and its financial position gives serious cause for concern.
General secretary of the Na- tional Bus and Railworkers’ Union Dermot O’Leary said a premium hike for other grades would make drivers more determined to get an increase.
He has warned industrial action may be coming down the road unless the company rewards its 2,500 staff following a series of cuts.
Siptu official John Murphy said the company had confirmed it was prepared to look at “modest” increases.
“Their idea of modest and our idea of modest may be two different things,” he said.
His colleague Fran McDonnell said discussions about increases for clerical, maintenance staff and supervisors and inspectors had already taken place.
“We feel it’s high time that staff within Bus Éireann should be in receipt of a pay rise,” he said. “They’ve had an extraordinary number of years and a lot of pain has been felt by all grades of staff. They are the only ones who haven’t received a pay rise in the CIÉ Group.”
A Bus Éireann spokesperson said the company was not in talks with any grade of staff discussing a pay claim. She said the talks were about “scoping for the possibility of a pay increase”.
“A number of exploratory meetings have commenced internally with unions, representing the various grades of staff,” she said.
The talks take place just a day after the shock announcement that chief executive Ray Hernan will leave in the coming months to take on a senior role in another company. He joined in 2016 and steered it through a cost-cutting plan and threeweek all-out strike in April last year. Chief commercial officer Stephen Kent has been appointed acting chief executive.