CIE group strike Monday

Victor

http://www.onbusiness.ie/2004/0213/CIE.html

LRC appoints chairperson for CIE talks
February 13, 2004 (14:02)

The Chief Executive of the Labour Relations Commission (LRC) has appointed an independent chairperson to oversee talks on the future of CIE.

Kieran Mulvey has appointed Kevin Foley, a senior industrial relations officer with the commission, to the post. Mr Foley is currently facilitating talks on the prison officers' overtime dispute.

It is hoped that the appointment of Mr Foley will avert the transport disruption threatened for next week by the National Bus and Rail Workers Union (NBRU).

Yesterday the NBRU said that its four-hour protests and marches, which are scheduled for Monday, resulted from frustration over the failure by Transport Minister Seamus Brennan to appoint a chairperson.

Last night the LRC Chief executive Kieran Mulvey appealed to the union not to engage in industrial action. However, yesterday evening NBRU General Secretary Liam Tobin said that this Monday's action would probably go ahead regardless of the LRC intervention.

SIPTU representatives at CIE are due to meet today to consider their reaction to the NBRU move.

Victor

http://www.rte.ie/news/2004/0213/cie.html

SIPTU backs CIÉ four-hour stoppage
February 13, 2004

(18:36) SIPTU officials at CIÉ have decided to back a four-hour stoppage planned by the National Bus and Rail Union next Monday.

After a four-hour meeting, the National Industrial Secretary, Micheal Halpenny, said SITPU understood the frustration that has built up among the CIÉ workforce.

It had been hoped that the appointment of independent chairman, Kevin Foley, to oversee talks on CIÉ's future would prompt union leaders to call off the strike.

SIPTU has welcomed the appointment and said they would be willing to participate in talks over the weekend.

Earlier, the Chief Executive of the Labour Relations Commission Kieran Mulvey appointed Kevin Foley as chairman.

Mr Foley is a Senior Industrial Relations Officer with the commission who is currently facilitating talks on the prison officers' overtime dispute.

Yesterday, the NBRU said its members would stop work in protest at the failure of the minister to appoint an independent chairman for talks on the break up of CIÉ.

The NBRU's members are set to stop work between 11am and 3pm on Monday. They also threatened to hold a full one-day stoppage a week later, on Monday 23 February.

However, yesterday the NBRU General Secretary, Liam Tobin, said that, because his members were so angry and frustrated, this Monday's protests would go ahead regardless of the LRC intervention.

While disruption is inevitable next Monday, the extent of that disruption will depend on whether SIPTU decides to support the NBRU action.

Victor

http://home.eircom.net/content/irelandcom/topstories/2529557?view=Eircomnet

Commuters face disruption as union plans day of protest
From:ireland.com
Friday, 13th February, 2004

Bus and rail services face serious disruption on Monday following a decision yesterday by the National Bus and Rail Union to stage a day of protest, in its ongoing row with the Minister for Transport, Mr Brennan.

The planned action, which took other unions by surprise, is likely to hit off-peak services of the three CIÉ companies, Iarnród Éireann, Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann.

SIPTU has brought forward a meeting of its CIÉ strike committees to today, to decide whether to support the protest.

The NBRU, which also announced a full one-day strike for Monday, February 23rd, rejected a request by the Labour Relations Commission to call off the actions.

The LRC said it was "at a loss to understand" the basis for the threatened disruption.

The NBRU, however, said the strike planned for Monday week could be averted, but this Monday's protest was unavoidable.

Members are being invited to attend protest meetings from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., to include marches in major urban centres.

Services are expected to be disrupted for at least that period of time. The protests, said the union, were being organised because of the "failure" of Mr Brennan to set up a talks process as promised.

Meanwhile, a separate threatened one-day stoppage involving Westport-based train drivers was averted after a dispute over rosters was resolved.

Unions are opposed to the Minister's plans to break up CIÉ and force Dublin Bus to surrender 25 per cent of its routes to private operators. He also wants to increase competition on national bus routes.

After the breakdown of several previous talks processes, unions and the Minister agreed to begin new negotiations at a meeting on January 26th.

The two sides were to agree an independent chair and terms of reference, and the talks were to be conducted "within a tight time frame".

Mr Liam Tobin, the NBRU general secretary, said yesterday that nothing had been heard from the Minister since the January meeting.

A spokesman for Mr Brennan said there had been ongoing contact between the two sides on the matter, and the action announced by the NBRU was "premature".

The unions have proposed Mr Kevin Foley of the Labour Relations Commission as chairman of the talks. It is understood this proposal is acceptable to the Department.

Victor

http://home.eircom.net/content/unison/national/2529809?view=Eircomnet

Travel chaos as union hits back over CIE break-up
From:The Irish Independent
Friday, 13th February, 2004
Gerald Flynn Industrial Correspondent

BUS and rail passengers face travel chaos on Monday after union chiefs sanctioned lightning work stoppages in the battle against bus privatisation and a break-up of CIE.

The National Bus and Rail Union decided to take industrial action after nearly a year of on-off strike threats over Minister Seamus Brennan's plans for the organisation.

The other main public transport union, Siptu, is to hold a meeting of its CIE strike committee today and may decide on similar action.

Last night, the state's top industrial peace broker, Labour Relations Commission chief Kieran Mulvey, called on the NBRU to pull back. He said the talks facilitator, promised last month, would be appointed this week.

A four-hour work stoppage - from 11am on Monday - and a one-day strike for the following week, were last night called for by NBRU chief Liam Tobin.

Mr Tobin said the day of action was likely to affect all CIE services between 11am and 3pm on Monday as union members attend protest meetings. "Strike action will be taken for a full day on February 23, unless the minister honours his commitments to CIE unions made last month to hold talks on the future of public transport."

Furious employers last night accused both the unions and the minister of disregarding the needs of the travelling public.

Small Firms' Association director general Pat Delaney said there was already mayhem getting to and from work without these extra stoppages.

"There doesn't seem to be any effort by the unions or the minister to cater for the customers' needs. Everything should be done to sort this out and if all it takes is a meeting then the minister should hold talks," he said.

Mr Delaney added: "This unnecessary disruption to business and employees will affect those using buses, trains or the Dart service, which is now only available five days each week."

The latest public transport disruption is a breach of the new guidelines agreed by the unions only two months ago, to avoid hitting public transport passengers. The sudden escalation was decided at an NBRU executive meeting in a move partly designed to outflank its Siptu rival and to appease some of the more militant bus drivers.

Despite the repeated strike threats, Mr Brennan has held firm to his pledge to have one-quarter of bus services in Dublin operated by private bus companies before the end of this year. Fifteen months ago he promised to have his partial privatisation in operation by last month.

Unions feared the restructuring would lead to 600 Dublin Bus drivers' jobs being axed.

Last night Dublin Bus management warned that pay would be deducted from any employees who participate in the stoppage.

Meanwhile, Irish Rail last night said a full service is planned today for the Westport-Dublin line.

It followed a decision by Westport train drivers to call off a one-day stoppage. Union representatives said the drivers had accepted a revised offer on pay and rosters which was clarified last night.

Victor

http://www.breakingnews.ie/2004/02/14/story134141.html

SIPTU to press ahead with Monday's strike
14/02/2004 - 8:32:00 am

SIPTU officials at CIÉ are determined to press ahead with strike action next Monday despite hinting they might be willing to enter into talks over the weekend.

Following a four-hour meeting yesterday the SIPTU strike committee decided to back their colleagues at the National Bus and Rail Workers union and engage in the four-hour stoppage.

Union leaders have welcomed the appointment of the independent chairman to oversee talks with CIÉ.

But Dublin branch secretary Tony Tobin says the Minister for Transport, Seamus Brennan must reach some compromise or the unions will be forced to defend the positions of its members.

Victor

http://www.rte.ie/news/2004/0215/transport.html

Protests will disrupt train and bus services
February 15, 2004

(19:08) The employers' group ISME has described as 'malicious' the decision by transport unions to hold a day of protest tomorrow which will disrupt train and bus services.

Members of SIPTU and the NBRU will hold a four-hour work stoppage between eleven and three to protest at the proposed break up of CIE and the privatisation of certain bus routes.

Victor

http://www.breakingnews.ie/2004/02/15/story134310.html

NBRU say strike is against Minister, not public
15/02/2004 - 2:43:14 pm

The National Bus and Railworkers Union is adamant tomorrow's planned industrial action is aimed at the Transport Minister Seamus Brennan and not the travelling public.

The group says it is committed to maintaining rush hour services and insists the drastic action is being taken with regret.

However, the Irish Small and Medium Enterprises Association is branding the union's tactics as malicious, mistaken and selfish.

Chief Executive Mark Fielding said he does not believe the NRBU when it says it is concerned about the commuter.

Victor

http://www.dublinbus.ie/news_centre/dublin_bus_news.asp?action=view&news_id=288

Disruption to Bus Services

DUBLIN BUS WARNS OF DISRUPTION TO BUS SERVICES ON MONDAY 16TH FEBRUARY 2004

Dublin Bus wishes to advise its customers that because of unofficial industrial action by busworkers planned for Monday 16th February, the Company is not in a position to guarantee the operation of any bus services between 09.30am and 3.30pm.

The company is advising that any customers who wish to make a journey with Dublin Bus do so before 09.30am in the morning and after 3.30pm in the afternoon, when we believe that the full service will have resumed.

Dublin Bus sincerely regrets the inconvenience to our valued customers.

http://www.buseireann.ie/site/news_centre/news_briefs.asp?action=view&news_id=220

Bus Éireann warns customers of disruption to services

Bus Éireann advises customers that, because of unofficial industrial action by busworkers planned for today, Monday 16 February 2004, the Company is not in a position to guarantee operation of the normal range of services throughout the day.

The Company confirms that city and local services will be disrupted between 11:00 and 15:00. It is hoped that normal services will resume shortly after 15:00.

On Expressway routes, any failure of services to depart from starting points between 11:00 and 15:00 will result in continuing disruption to Expressway services for the remainder of the day. The Company is not in a position to guarantee any services or forward connections in that event.

Customers are advised to contact local Bus Éireann offices for latest information before planning or commencing a journey.

Please click here for Bus Éireann Contact Phone Numbers

Bus Éireann regrets the inconvenience to customers.

http://www.irishrail.ie/news_centre/travel_alerts.asp?action=view&news_id=139

Unofficial action by NBRU and SIPTU, Monday 16 February, 11.00hrs to 15.00hrs by Media & PR


IARNRÓD ÉIREANN NEWS RELEASE 16 February 2004

Threatened unofficial action by NBRU and SIPTU

UPDATE 11.30HRS, MONDAY 16 FEBRUARY - LIKELY SERVICE FOR REST OF TODAY

Due to the unofficial action by NBRU, SIPTU and possibly other unions, between 11.00hrs and 15.00hrs on Monday 16 February, there is disruption on Iarnród Éireann's InterCity, DART and Commuter services at the moment.

Iarnród Éireann urges staff to work normal rosters, and ensure that unnecessary disruption does not result for our customers. We also urge unions to ensure that services operate normally.

Peak services across DART, Commuter and InterCity services operated normally this morning, and are expected to do so again with this evening.

The following is a list of cancelled and delayed services on InterCity.


CANCELLED:

Dublin/Belfast - 1030, 1230, 1410 Belfast-Connolly will operate Belfast to Newry only. 1100, 1320, 1520 Connolly-Belfast will operate Newry to Belfast only

Dublin/Rosslare - 1340 Connolly-Rosslare Europort and 1325 Rosslare Europort to Connolly cancelled. 1100 Drogheda to Arklow cancelled

Dublin/Waterford - 0930, 1130 Heuston to Waterford and 1310 Waterford to Heuston cancelled

Dublin/Galway - 1305 Galway to Heuston cancelled

Dublin/Sligo - 0955, 1055 Connolly-Longford; 1215, 1315 Longford to Connolly; 1315 Sligo-Connolly, 1325 Connolly to Sligo all cancelled

Dublin/Limerick - 1410 Heuston-Limerick, 1730 Limerick to Heuston cancelled also - Limerick Junction/Limerick/Ennis services cancelled during hours of protest

Dublin/Westport - 1255 Heuston to Westport, 1320 Westport to Heuston cancelled



DELAYED

Dublin/Cork - 1425 Cork to Heuston delayed by approx 50 mins

Dublin/Limerick - 1420 Limerick to Heuston delayed by approx 55 mins

Dublin/Tralee - 14.00 Tralee to Heuston delayed by approx 75 mins, 1830 Heuston to Tralee delayed

Dublin/Waterford - 1440 Waterford to Heuston delayed by approx 35 mins, 1505 Heuston to Waterford delayed by approx 10 mins

Dublin/Galway - 1440 Heuston to Galway delayed by approx 35 mins, 1805 Galway to Heuston delayed

All other InterCity services are expected to operate normally.



DART/COMMUTER

All DART and Commuter services are likely to be cancelled from 11.00hrs to 15.00hrs at the earliest, and possibly up to 16.00hrs. Normal DART and commuter services are expected to operate for the evening peak.

The following were the last trains to operate prior to the unofficial action:

Northern Suburban

Last services:

1000 Dundalk - Connolly

0920 Bray - Drogheda.

1025 Bray - Drogheda terminated at Connolly.

Western Suburban

Last Services

0915 Pearse - Maynooth

1035 Maynooth - Pearse.


DART

1010 Bray - Howth terminated at Connolly.

1030 Bray - Malahide terminated at Connolly.

1030 Greystones - Howth terminated at Connolly.

1055 Bray - Howth terminated at Connolly. (Last Train).

0955 Howth - Greystones terminated at Bray.

1030 Malahide - Bray terminated at Connolly.

1100 Howth - Greystones terminated at Bray. (Last Train).



Information will be updated as it becomes available on this website.

Iarnród Éireann apologises to customers for any inconvenience this possible action may cause.

Victor

http://www.onbusiness.ie/2004/0216/bus.html

Chaos expected as bus/rail dispute begins
February 16, 2004
(12:21)

Widespread disruption is expected on the country's bus and rail networks today as transport workers stage a four hour stoppage.

Around 1,000 CIE bus and rail workers have left the headquarters of the NBRU in their protest march to Leinster House. The march is accompanied by garda officers on foot and on motorcycles.

The action, which started at 11am, is over plans to break up CIE and to privatise certain bus routes. SIPTU and the National Bus and Rail workers Union say workers are voicing their frustration over the slow pace of talks on the future of the national transport company.

Employers bodies have described the national protests as malicious and pointless.

ISME said the NBRU and SIPTU action shows scant regard for commuters by 'premature and selfish decision' to initiate industrial action. ISME called on Minister Brennan to face down the bullyboys and continue to reform the transport sector.

The policy director of the Dublin Chamber of Commerce, Declan Martin, said the CIE group of unions does not have a veto over progress in the introduction of competition into the Dublin bus market, and the Chamber has urged the Transport Minister, Seamus Brennan, to proceed with speed in the introudction of his planned route franchising.

Victor

http://www.rte.ie/news/2004/0216/cie.html

CIÉ workers march to Leinster House
February 16, 2004

(12:14) Around 1,000 CIÉ bus and rail workers have left the headquarters of the National Bus and Rail workers Union in a protest march to Leinster House.

The march is accompanied by garda officers on foot and on motorcycles.

Members of SIPTU and of the NBRU are protesting at plans to break up CIÉ and privatise some bus routes.

They will make their way to Leinster House, and deliver a letter to the Department of Transport, before marching back to Parnell Square.

Further protests have been arranged locally in other cities and towns.

Bus and rail workers throughout the country earlier began a four-hour stoppage.

The Tánaiste said their action merely highlights the importance of competition in transport services.

Mary Harney said the protest was deeply disappointing. She said CIÉ staff must embrace change to achieve better services for the public.

In a letter to the Minister for Transport, Seamus Brennan, the NBRU said it regretted having to resort to mass protest and was willing to be partners in the process of public transport reform, but only if treated as partners and not as mere employees.

Widespread cancellations and other disruptions to bus and rail networks are expected until late this afternoon.

SIPTU and the National Bus and Rail Workers' Union say workers are voicing their frustration over the slow pace of talks on the future of the national transport company.

Agent Smith

so thats how you used to have a high post count