NBRU Announces Planned Industrial Action against Bus Privatisation.

The NBRU has announced the 1st of May (International Workers Day) as a day of Action against Government Plans to tender out 10% of existing Bus routes.

General Secretary Dermot O’Leary said:

Our members in Dublin Bus ( 92%) and Bus Éireann (91%) have given us an overwhelming mandate to challenge this ill-thought out policy, we have today advised Dublin Bus, Bus Éireann the NTA, the Department and the Minister that our members will engage in Industrial Action on the 1st May, the details of the action will be communicated to the parties one week in advance but will include a two hour protest March to the Dail, (11am to 1pm) similar protest marches will take place across the Country in all major urban centres”.

Mr O’Leary went on to say:

“Despite over seven months of discussion at the LRC, the Government, in the guise of the NTA, have not moved a jot in addressing the concerns of bus workers, the NBRU has been consistent in our opposition to the transfer of any current Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann staff to private companies.

Our concerns in relation to the future of both Companies along with the future of Irish Rail as part of the CIÉ Group have actually been heightened during the LRC Process. There is a certain irony in bus workers having to take to the streets to highlight their plight on International Workers Day, a day which is synonymous with the Labour movement throughout the world; we are now calling on the Labour Party to use their position in Government to halt the tendering process, to allow for actual negotiations to take place, a continuation of the current tendering process will inevitably lead to race to the bottom in workers terms and conditions”.

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