Unions are calling for a wage increase of almost 4%.
Pay talks that have been ongoing between Irish Rail and the National Bus and Rail Union (NBRU) have broken down after deals between the two have still yet to be finalised.
The talks have been taking place at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) in the capital.
According to The Irish Times, members of the NBRU are furious at Irish Rail’s attitude towards the deal and are finding it hard to understand why they won’t offer a ‘no strings attached’ pay rise after a pay freeze that has lasted over ten years.
NBRU want a wage increase of almost 4% but it comes at a time when Iarnród Éireann state that they are in debt that is worth in the region of €160 million.
NBRU General-Secretary Dermot O’Leary says:
“Our members have looked at colleagues in the public transport sector enjoying pay increases of up to 3.75%, while Irish Rail is thumbing its nose at its own staff by making a pitiful offer, at a time when passenger numbers and revenue at Irish Rail are at a historical high, is contemptuous to say the least.”
The union has since said that it will move to ballot all members for industrial action which could include an all-out strike that would leave commuters without a service in the next number of weeks.
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