[Victor]

http://www.rte.ie/news/2004/0122/trains.html

Mayo train drivers plan industrial action
January 22, 2004

(16:55) Train services to and from Mayo are threatened with disruption tomorrow because of unofficial industrial action by train drivers in Westport.

Six drivers, who are members of SIPTU and the ATGWU, are in dispute with Iarnród Éireann over rostering arrangements.

The dispute has been referred to the Labour Court, but the drivers have warned they intend to withdraw their services tomorrow.

Six trains carrying an estimated 2,000 passengers between Dublin and Westport could be affected. Iarnród Éireann said it's planning to provide alternative bus services.

[vinnyfitz]

Wasn't Westport also a notorious battle ground in the CIE - ILDA rail dispute a couple of years ago?

What is going on up there?

[Victor]

http://www.rte.ie/news/2004/0129/train.html

Talks on Mayo train driver strike
January 29, 2004

(12:15) The leader of SIPTU's Rail branch, Tony Tobin, is travelling to Mayo tonight for talks to try and avert another one-day train drivers' strike in the county.

Six drivers in Westport, who are in dispute with Iarnród Éireann over a €100 a week pay rise, took unofficial industrial action last week, causing disruption for 2,000 travellers on the Wesport-Dublin rail line. Another one-day stoppage is planned for tomorrow.

Mr Tobin will hold talks with the four of the six drivers who are SIPTU members to try and work out a deal to prevent further disruption. He said the Labour Court would be available to examine the issue if a deal can be reached.

Mr Tobin told RTÉ News he will also be appealing to Iarnród Éireann to adopt a flexible approach when trying to resolve the issues which are at stake.

However, Finbarr Masterson of the ATGWU said Iarnród Éireann had rejected proposals put to it by on behalf of the ATGWU drivers, and he believed it was likely that they would be going ahead with their action again tomorrow.

Iarnród Éireann Western Development Officer, Myles McHugh, says he hopes that further industrial action can be avoided tomorrow but if not the company will be providing alternative bus services for intending passengers.

[vinnyfitz]

For more background on Mr Masterson and the Westport dimension to the previous (ILDA) dispute check out Brendan Ogle's recent book.

How come Irish Rail say they are only working 28 hours and they claim they are working 42? I supose they drive three trains a week back and forth at about 9 hours a round trip? And they claim the time sitting around in Dublin is working time. Is that it? Could it be a 4.5 hour wait in Dublin each time? Why is Westport the only place in Ireland this problem arises?

[Epitaph]

4 hours on a bus last Friday B(

Fire the (unts, I've absolutely zero sympathy for whining f*cks like that.

Vinny: I think they were whinging about only getting paid for 48 hours when all they work is 28 hours. Something like that, someone please tell me that I'm hallucinating because that is the biggest *grrr!!* I've ever heard.

Infinity x ,
Ep

[Victor]

http://home.eircom.net/content/irela...view=Eircomnet

Westport train drivers to go on strike tomorrow
From:ireland.com
Thursday, 29th January, 2004

Passengers on the Westport to Dublin rail line face disruption for the second Friday in a row tomorrow following a decision by six drivers to strike.

Train services are likely to be cancelled and replaced by buses on the route for 24 hours. Last week more than 2,000 people were inconvenienced in a similar action.

The drivers involved are members of the SIPTU and ATGWU but both unions stress the action is unofficial. SIPTU representative, Mr Tony Tobin, is heading to Co Mayo for talks in an effort to avert the strike.

The six drivers in Westport are in dispute with Iarnród Éireann over a €100 a week pay rise. They also claim that the company owes them €11,000 in back pay under the new nationally-agreed rostering arrangements.

The company is refusing to make payments without changes to the roster for drivers based in Westport. These drivers work a 28-hour week compared with the 48-hour average week worked by all other drivers, the company says.

But the train drivers have rejected this view saying their rosters prove their average week is just under 40 hours. In a statement they rejected an offer of Labour Court talks and accused the company of attempting to "humiliate" them.

Following last week's dispute Iarnród Éireann is expected to initiate legal proceedings against the ATGWU union to recoup lost revenue due to last week's unofficial stoppage.

[Victor]

http://www.rte.ie/news/2004/0130/rail.html

Dispute hits Mayo/Rosommon train services
January 30, 2004

(10:56) Up to 2,000 passengers are being affected by today's one-day stoppage by Westport-based train drivers because of an ongoing dispute over pay and rosters.

As a result the ongoing stand-off will once again leave Counties Mayo and Roscommon without trains today.

SIPTU Rail Branch Chairman, Tony Tobin, said he regretted that 11th hour attempts to solve the dispute were unsuccessful.

Mr Tobin said it now required more flexibility from Iarnród Éireann to resolve the dispute. He said there were no plans for any further talks, but SIPTU would be available during next week if there was to be another attempt to prevent further action by the train drivers.

The six drivers claim they are owed €11,000 each in a row over the amount of hours they have to work.

Iarnród Éireann have put on a fleet of buses to provide an alternative service for passengers.


Chamber calls for resolution

Westport Chamber of Commerce earlier appealed to drivers to resolve their differences with the company.

The chamber warned that the one day stoppages will have an extremely serious effect on business and tourism in the town.

The train drivers say they have no option but to continue their action as two and a half years of talks have got them nowhere.

[Victor]

http://www.rte.ie/news/newsinbrief.html

Mayo train drivers suspend strike action
Train services in the west will operate as normal tomorrow after a group of drivers suspended their unofficial industrial action. Six train drivers are pursuing a €100 a week increase. Up to 2,000 passengers have had their plans disrupted each Friday since the drivers began their action almost three weeks ago.