Threat of bus strike

Victor

While I don't like they way Brennan is going about privatisation / re-regulation, I don't think there is need for a strike yet.

What do people think of drivers (and other staff) being allowed to form a cooperative bus company, as a middle ground between Dublin Bus and private operators.
http://home.eircom.net/content/irelandcom/topstories/632382?view=Eircomnet

Strike leaflet for bus passengers
From:ireland.com
Monday, 28th April, 2003

Dublin Bus drivers are to circulate leaflets to passengers this morning explaining their justification for expected industrial action next month.

Copies of the leaflets are to be left on passenger seats and handed out by members of the National Bus and Railworkers Union (NBRU), as part of the ground work in a propaganda war set to erupt after a ballot on industrial action on Wednesday.

The NBRU general secretary, Mr Liam Tobin, said yesterday there was "little doubt" members would vote overwhelmingly in favour of action because of plans by the Minister for Transport, Mr Brennan, to privatise certain bus routes in Dublin.

Mr Tobin said he understood the Minister would unveil such plans before Cabinet tomorrow and that this would breach an agreement reached between the unions and Dublin Bus in June 2000. Downplaying rumours of an imminent Cabinet decision, however, a spokesman for the Minister said proposals were not due to be finalised for another three to four weeks.

Such proposals are due to give effect to the Minister's decision to break up CIÉ, thereby establishing Bus Éireann, Iarnród Éireann and Dublin Bus as three independent companies. Mr Brennan has also signalled his intention to open up 25 per cent of the capital's bus market to competition by next January.

The NBRU said votes in the ballot would be counted next Thursday and industrial action was expected within 10 days. It said action could extend to other CIÉ companies if the Minister did not back down on his privatisation plans.

Mr Tobin said the June 2000 agreement, which was subsequently endorsed by the Public Transport Forum set up under the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness, "provides the best way forward for the company, the unions and the travelling public".

Under the deal, it was agreed that Dublin Bus would maintain its core services and only 20-25 per cent of new services could be contracted out to private companies by Dublin Bus.

Commenting on plans announced late last week by the Asian-owned DelGro Corporation to target the Irish city and inter-city bus markets, Mr Tobin remarked: "Now we are having faceless millionaires from Singapore taking over our core services. We are not going to have it."

He said it was "ludicrous" that Dublin Bus was being prohibited from establishing new routes because a private operator could be interested. "The Minister seems determined to ignore existing agreements and press ahead with his own privatisation agenda."

dmeehan

will dublin bus be allowed to tender for the new routes?

Victor

Originally posted by dmeehan
will dublin bus be allowed to tender for the new routes?

I'm not sure. I imagine yes if there is low demand, but there would be some restrictions to promote an indepenent sector.

Victor

http://www.rte.ie/news/2003/0501/CIE.html

NBRU votes in favour of industrial action
May 1, 2003

(14:00) The National Bus and Railway Union has voted overwhelmingly in favour of industrial action at the CIE group of companies over plans to privatise part of the network.

94% of the 3,600 NBRU members in CIE voted in favour of action.

The union's executive will now meet to discuss what form its industrial action may take.

The result of a ballot of SIPTU workers in CIE is expected later this month.