Rail union seeking legal advice over €500 gift voucher
ONE of the unions involved in the row with Irish Rail over a €500 gift voucher is seeking legal advice after complaints from members.
The Irish Daily Mail has learned that while almost 98% of staff have accepted their vouchers, the less than 100 workers yet to claim them are unhappy with having to register with the firm online to do so.
The row dates back to November when workers, who had gone on strike for two days, voted to accept a Labour Court recommendation, which included a 7.5% pay rise over three years, as well as a €500 ‘goodwill’ voucher.
Many had been anticipating a One4All voucher, accepted in 8,000 outlets nationwide, similar to one received by bus colleagues previously.
But instead they were offered Dunnes Stores vouchers and told to register to an Irish Rail email address to get it.
National Bus and Rail Union News: How Mail broke story general secretary Dermot O’Leary accused the company of demonstrating ‘Grinch-like behaviour’, while Siptu’s Paul Cullen said at the time the ‘mistrust towards management could no doubt manifest itself in future ballots’. Unions also warned that the bad feeling caused by the voucher could see staff reject an upcoming vote on a Labour Court recommendation that staff should get a 1.15% pay hike in exchange for mentoring new drivers.
This proved prophetic as both NBRU and Siptu members rejected the recommendation, with both unions announcing this week that they are to begin balloting on strike action. The NBRU claims it has not received a reply to correspondence it sent in December, seeking an ‘alternative method’ of issuing the vouchers.
Mr O’Leary has confirmed to the Mail that the union is seeking legal advice. He said the reaction was not in relation to the voucher, as his members ‘appreciate it was the Labour Court and not Irish Rail who awarded the “goodwill gesture”.’
He said: ‘In the meantime, the NBRU is seeking legal advice following requests from a number of our members in relation to Irish Rail’s continued withholding of the vouchers from staff who have absolutely no desire to register as an internal email user.
‘It should be understood that these staff come, similar to those who have already received the voucher, under the ambit of the Labour Court recommendation which is now a de facto collective agreement between the trade unions and Irish Rail.’
Siptu confirmed it sought an alternative method of obtaining the vouchers but it’s understood the union has not sought legal advice. A spokesman for Irish Rail said the ‘email was chosen as a secure and convenient means of distribution’. He said: ‘We are continuing with sign-ups every day, with assistance for email set-up to facilitate this too. The distribution of the vouchers has been a very successful programme for employees and the company alike, ensuring that this crucial element of the pay agreement was distributed on time, securely and enabling our employees to avail of the benefits with maximum convenience.
‘We are continuing to have applications daily and we will provide assistance to anyone who requires it for the very small number of outstanding vouchers unclaimed.
‘Email distribution was chosen as a secure and convenient means of distribution and remains available to the minimal numbers who have not yet availed of it.’
Comment – Page 10 emmajane.hade@dailymail.ie
‘Small number outstanding’