Public Transport and Unions

highgiant1985

Just a general question about people who work for the likes of Bus Eireann and Irish rail, if theres a better forum to post this on please move this thread.

I was wondering what Union the majority of employees within these companies would be with? e.g. Siptu etc...?

My reason for asking is at the moment alot of unions e.g. SIPTU etc... are taking about potential strike action, given I rely heavily on public transport for getting all over the country with my own job (Enniskillen to Cork!) I just want to know what union I should be keeping an eye out for in the news.

Colm R

I feel for you on this one. I am a commuter myself, heavily reliant on public transport but I will be able to make alternative arrangements. Although the traffic in Dublin will be chaotic if/when this comes to pass.

Just keep an eye on RTE. Any day(s) of strike will be well publicised.

Private operators will most likely continue to operate on these days. I think Ulsterbus has services to Galway from places in Northern Ireland, and you could use CityLink from there.

AlekSmart

I think Highgiant1985 and others can relax just a little as the situation is as yet quite fluid.

There is a general feel that both in relation to the withdrawal of Buses and the dismissal of Staff the CIE Companies have got it badly wrong.

Part of this problem lies with the CIE being beholden to a highly politicised Department of Transport and a less than inspiring Minister and Cabinet for it`s Public Transport Policy guidance.

The past month has proven rather spectacularly that Minister Dempsey has only the most tenuous grasp of the Road Transport aspects of his brief.

His exhortations with respect to service provision by Bus Atha Cliath in particular have a hollow ring when under the provisions of the current leglislation (The 1932 Road Transport Act) provision of all such services remain directly at the Ministers discretion and direction.

The relevant sections of a large and complex Act all contain references such as-"The MInister may,at his discretion"-"The Minister may direct the board"-"The Minister may set,at his total discretion,the route,type of vehicle and fare to be charged"....Can anybody see the direction this is heading?

Thus far it has suited Mr Dempsey to play the down home,folksy country boy as he waltzes through the soft RTE News interviews,none of which have managed to identify the ACTUAL amount of responsibility he personally bears for the current BAC situation.

It should be noted that even the Deloitte Report,commissioned by him to "confirm his suspicions" re BAC`s policies,notably failed to find a "Smoking Gun" which would have allowed him to march to the gates of Moscow in victory.

Instead the Deloitte Report raises far more questions about the role of Departmental Overview and Sanction in BAC Managements attempts to provide the levels of service expected of them.

It all brings back the memories of John Bruton`s famous comment to the Dàil that he had not provided a specific important answer simply because he had not been asked the right question...That is the level at which modern day Irish Public Administration now operates.

As of now, BOTH SIPTU and NBRU are merely seeking a mandate for industrial action up to and including strike should the companies seek to impliment the proposed courses of action.

This proposed action,which may yet include Irish Rail/Dart could prove Disasterous Politically for the Government and essentially fatal for the Green Party as an institution in itself.

The Fat Lady ain`t even tuning up yet !!!

Colm R

Whilst striking at CIE is probably a little way off at the moment (albeit a very real possibility), I think the pension levy is going to cause a lot of problems for the travelling public (and indeed all customers of the public/civil and semi state services).

meanmachine3

highgiant1985 wrote: »

Just a general question about people who work for the likes of Bus Eireann and Irish rail,
I was wondering what Union the majority of employees within these companies would be with? e.g. Siptu etc...?
I just want to know what union I should be keeping an eye out for in the news.

A.F.A.I.K. the N.B.R.U. has majority of between 2or3 /1 as opposed to s.i.p.t.u. that is they have either two or three times the amount of members thats in dublin bus anyway. i cant speak for I.R. or bus eireann.

Colm R wrote: »

Whilst striking at CIE is probably a little way off at the moment (albeit a very real possibility), I think the pension levy is going to cause a lot of problems for the travelling public (and indeed all customers of the public/civil and semi state services).

mrs.mean is one of those affected and i can bet ya we'll be doing all our shopping up north if this pay cut comes in as i'm sure thousands of c/servants will as well.

AlekSmart

Originally Posted by Colm R

Whilst striking at CIE is probably a little way off at the moment (albeit a very real possibility), I think the pension levy is going to cause a lot of problems for the travelling public (and indeed all customers of the public/civil and semi state services).

Although the word on the street is that the CIE wages grade pension scheme is somewhat underfunded it should be recognized that the Wages Grade staff are NOT classifed as Public Servants in the same manner as yer bog standard CSO.

Therefore the currrent Public Service Pension Levy does NOT apply to them,however if the rumblings are correct then Bus and Rail staff will indeed have to supplement their contributions...However a final pension of €135 per week after 40 years service is not going to allow for an offer on Dr Smurfits Yacht.

The CIE staff are employees of a State Sponsored Commercial Body and could perhaps thus be said to have the worst of both worlds.