Current Issue, 22nd July 2015
Articles
NEWS – IRN 28 – 22/07/2015
Iarnrod Eireann – discontent grows as passenger revenues increase
COLMAN HIGGINS
A clear signal has been sent in recent weeks that increases in train services planned for next year will require agreement with the unions, as several ‘standoffs’ have taken place over Iarnrod Eireann’s driver mentoring programme.
The NBRU, which says it represents both trainee drivers and those who have volunteered for the mentoring programme, says a distinction should be drawn between trainees recruited to fill gaps in the current timetable and those recruited to gear up for future services.
It said that recruiting trainee drivers before consultation with the unions in relation to the increased services “would be counterproductive and would place such trainees in a far more invidious position than those who have been previously recruited”.
The mentoring programme involves a trainee shadowing a working driver for a period of time. It is understood that the ‘standoffs’ consisted of situations in which drivers which had previously carried out mentoring had declined to do so. It is understood that while almost a dozen drivers are qualified to mentor the eight current trainees, only three are currently volunteering.
SIPTU, the other union representing train drivers, has proposed changing the training programme to allow the mentoring to take place at a later stage in the process.
‘MALAISE’ – UNION
NBRU says there is a “deep sense of malaise” in the locomotive driving grade, which is partly driven by the combination of positive reporting of increased passenger revenues on the one hand, and a temporary pay cut on the other, which remains in place until October 2016.
Provision for early restoration of the pay cuts would have to be done through a Cost Management Committee (CMC) that would identify offsetting savings, but this committee has not been meeting in recent months.
It is understood that the unions withdrew from the committee because they felt it was making little progress and they want it reviewed. A spokesperson for Iarnrod Eireann said on the CMC that the company is in conciliation with the LRC to establish a figure beyond which benefits would accrue in reducing the term of foregoing of gross pay, in the context of its continuing precarious financial position.
‘INVESTING IN PEOPLE’
Meanwhile, management at the company have launched a new programme called ‘Investing in People’, which covers four areas: ‘customer first’; succession planning and leadership development; safety leadership; and organisational design.
Communications on the new programme are to take place over the coming months and the NBRU says that any changes, be they to “job specs, change of role enhancement of some roles, possible amalgamation of other roles, increase in services etc” can only be achieved through negotiation with the trade unions.
It adds: “It would be irresponsible to make any move towards effecting change in staff conditions at Iarnrod Eireann in the absence of a discussion on pay restoration along with recognition that pay enhancements are long overdue.”
The company says ‘Investing in People’ is the theme behind a number of planned and ongoing initiatives. The customer element will introduce of “new customer relationship management (CRM) and revenue management capabilities”, as well as equipping staff “with technology and information” to provide better service.
The succession planning element is to ensure that “future leaders are identified and developed” within the company, while the safety element will focus on behavioural safety and involve staff more in the safety management system. The organizational design element is to ensure that safety and customer service are part of a “right-size and right-structured organization”.
DISCIPLINARY TRIBUNAL
A separate issue has also arisen in relation to the chairman of Iarnrod Eireann’s Disciplinary Appeals Tribunal (DAT). The NBRU has said that the agreed chairman is no longer in place, an issue which has been discussed at the Labour Relations Commission earlier this week, without a resolution.
On this point, the company says the previous chair had been in the post since 2007 and it was felt “appropriate to renew and refresh the DTA after this time”, adding “we are currently in the process of agreeing an interim chairman”.