Bus Eireann fleet is back on road again
Bus Éireann strike has been called off temporarily as the Labour Court issued its recommendations.
Bus Éireann union members will now vote on the Labour Court proposals, and will decide whether further strike action will be taken.
Last Thursday ( April 13) employees of the company were each given a 17 page recommendation which has to be agreed on by all staff and will then be balloted for acceptance.
This comes after a 21 day strike which caused significant distributions around the country and particular in Sligo as many people had to make alternative travelling arrangements
Sligo based Allister Kee, representative of National Bus and Rail Union ( NBRU) and a Bus Éireann employee for the last 15 years said it will take a number of days to study the document and that another strike could possibly be on the cards.
“We were hours waiting on this hoping we would get good results and this document has to be studied and agreed on.
“It is only a recommendation and has to be agreed on by all employees and then has to be balloted on for acceptance: if they accept it all the better.
“We were all looking forward to getting back to work. We didn’t realise the strike would run into three weeks.
“We were left three weeks without money which wasn’t right, the passengers were left without buses for three weeks, it was not good at all but unfortunately it has happened and we hope that it won’t happen again,” he said.
While customers were given very short notice about the in- definite strike and were faced with difficult travelling circumstances, Allister said there was tremendous support from the public.
NBRU General Secretary Dermot O’Leary also thanked the public for their patience:
“Our members will now return to work after 21 days on strike, they have shown tremendous dignity throughout what has been an extremely difficult dispute, for that they are to be commended, we would also like to take this opportunity to thank members of the travelling public for their massive support and understanding through what has been a difficult time for them in having to make alternative travel arrangements for their daily commute.”
Bus Éireann services have resumed as normal since Friday April 14.