It’s not over yet, but there’s light on the horizon.
Members of two Bus Éireann trade unions have voted in favour of accepting a Labour Court recommendation which aims to resolve the issues which caused the long running dispute at the public transport company.
Trade unions SIPTU and Unite both voted in favour of accepting the proposals.
However, SIPTU and Unite are just two of five trade unions involved in the dispute with the decision of the National Bus and Rail Union (NBRU) on the Labour Court’s recommendation expected to be decided next Friday.
SIPTU Sector Organiser, Willie Noone, said: “SIPTU will now inform the company of the decision by our members in Bus Éireann to accept Labour Court recommendation No.21438. The turnout for this ballot was very high, with 87% of SIPTU members in Bus Éireann participating.
“However, the acceptance of the recommendation can only be described as a purely pragmatic decision as its contents will have huge cultural, structural and financial implications for all staff within the company and indeed the wider CIÉ Group.”
Unite Regional Officer Willie Quigley said that many of their members may have felt obliged to accept the terms given the seriousness of Bus Éireann’s financial situation.
“Given the gravity of the situation facing Bus Éireann, a majority of our members may have felt they had no option but to accept highly unpalatable measures in the hope that the company’s fortunes can be turned around,” Quigley said.
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