(Statements from Minister Ross and Bus Éireann are below)
An all out strike has been declared at Bus Éireann, beginning at midnight.
General Secretary Dermot O’Leary said: “The letter issued on the 22nd March by Bus Éireann Management is clearly the straw that has broken the back in terms of spelling out exactly what the real agenda is here, the new management structure at Bus Éireann have clearly signalled that they are intent on pursuing a race to the bottom in relation to workers jobs, terms and conditions and to reposition Bus Éireann as a low cost transport provider.
“It is a source of considerable regret that the travelling public are going to be discommoded as a result of the decision that the Trade Unions have been forced to take.”
SIPTU Sector Organiser, Willie Noone, said: “That our members have been forced to take this action is regrettable but it is necessary in order to protect public transport services into the future.”
Earlier: Bus Éireann union reps will meet today as an all-out strike looks set to go ahead next week.
Commuters face widespread disruption from Monday after bosses at the company said there was "no basis" for more talks.
Siptu representatives will meet with the other trade unions involved in the Bus Éireann dispute today to establish a common strategy and response to a management strategy of changes to conditions of employment at the company.
Siptu sector organiser Willie Noone said: "The correspondence from management, which was sent to our members, clearly targets certain categories of staff for cuts.
"This is being done while senior management, who played a huge role in creating the company’s current financial predicament, remain immune to making any contribution."
In a letter to staff yesterday, Bus Éireann management said it is "deeply disappointing" that it could not reach agreement with unions and "difficult decisions must subsequently be taken to safeguard our Company’s future".
Last night, the NBRU wrote to Ray Hernan, the acting CEO of Bus Eireann, stating that the ’accusation’ by Bus Éireann that there was a "refusal at the WRC to accept any reductions of earnings, including unnecessary overtime earnings" was untrue.
Bus Éireann Statement:
Bus Éireann are extremely disappointed that Unions have called a strike at the company from midnight tonight.
Industrial action will cause major inconvenience to our customers and exacerbate the perilous financial situation at the company.
To be clear, losses for January and February in 2017 are 41% higher than for the same period last year - and losses in 2016 were €9.4m.
The company is facing insolvency in a few short months and not acting to implement cost savings urgently would be completely irresponsible.
The Board and management have twice postponed the introduction of efficiency measures - which are all within current collective agreements, and do not affect basic wages or current terms and conditions - to allow for 10 days of talks in two separate sessions at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC).
We sought savings of €12m from a payroll of €133m - or 9% - but Unions were only prepared to cede €0.5m on the current overtime bill of €13m.
The efficiencies we are seeking to introduce relate to work practices, which must be put in place if the company is to have a viable and sustainable future.
We apologise to our customers for any inconvenience caused by Unions' action and want to reiterate that School Transport services, GoBe.ie, Eurolines and Cross-Border Translink operated services should not be affected by this strike action.
Statement from Minister
