Talks on averting 48-hour national bus strike start but ‘could take days’

TALKS between the State’s bus companies and unions are to continue today in a bid to avert another nationwide strike.

Dublin Bus, Bus Éireann, SIPTU and the National Bus and Rail Union met at the Labour Relations Commission in Dublin yesterday.

LRC chairman Kieran Mulvey last night indicated a good start had been made.

He said: ‘I heard positive views from all sides and I hope we can get a resolution of the issue without further industrial action or imposing any further hardship on the travelling public.’

But Dermot O’Leary, the head of the NBRU, said there was some way to go to any possible resolution. He said: ‘We went in, we all sat down and we all put forward our positions. There now can be no doubt among the parties as to what the issues at stake are here, the scene has been set.

‘There was a frank exchange of views but the issues are complex, both industrial relations and legal matters, and it may take some days of talks.’

The last strike over the first two days of the May Bank Holiday weekend caused widespread disruption, and another 48hour strike is planned to begin on Friday.

A third strike is earmarked for the June Bank Holiday weekend, which is the one of busiest tourist weekends of the year and it could hit shops, tourist spots and the hospitality trade.

Paschal Donohoe has said for some time that it was hoped that all the parties would get around the table for talks at the LRC.

But Fianna Fáil transport spokesman Timmy Dooley said it was time for the Transport Minister to intervene directly.

He said: ‘This dispute has escalated completely out of control. Commuters, tourists and the economy are bearing the brunt of an ongoing stand-off between the Government and transport workers.

‘As the ultimate head of our public transport services, it is his responsibility to ensure our buses, which are run on taxpayers’ money, serve the public demand.’