Mr Joe Kenny
Manager Human Resources
Bus Éireann
Broadstone
Dublin 7
5th January 2015
Re: Pay Claim for Bus Éireann Staff
Dear Sir,
I refer to the above and my correspondence to your office dated the 2nd April 2014 in which the NBRU gave formal notice of a pay claim for our members.
The correspondence referenced our intention to pursue this claim on completion of the LRC Proposals dated the 17th May 2013, i.e. the 1st January 2015.
The request that staff put their shoulder to the wheel, as it were, and contribute to stabilising the finances of the Company has been met in full.
The attacks on staff incomes that accrued from a combination of Government-sponsored austerity and two consecutive cost recovery/wage reduction plans, have now been replaced by the Government’s confidence in the recovering economy and the Company’s recent fan-fared announcement with regard to strong passenger growth.
It is indeed encouraging to see the Chief Executive cheerleading on behalf of all staff at Bus Éireann with regard to a positive future, replacing the doom and gloom which had heretofore permeated throughout the Company over the last number of years.
Commenting on the growth in 2014, and on the general outlook for 2015, Bus Éireann chief executive Martin Nolan said: “Bus Éireann has achieved significant turnaround – and boosted customer numbers – over the last twelve months. Further growth is predicted next year in line with the improving economy, which augurs well for the standards of public transport that can be delivered, and the critical role it can play in helping the economy recover even faster.”
Our members’ contribution to this significant turnaround cannot be underestimated or ignored and now requires to be recognised and supported by an acknowledgement, from the Company, that their legitimate pay claim will be processed in a manner which will bring a close to what has been an unprecedented seven-year hiatus in pay awards.
I am now to request that you will convene a meeting as soon as is practical to discuss our members’ pay claim.
Yours sincerely
_____________
DERMOT O’LEARY
General Secretary tmp_Bus Eireann Pay Claim January 20152059467213