Mr Owen Reidy
Utilities and Construction Division Organiser
SIPTU
Liberty Hall
Dublin 1
13th April 2015
Re: Possible Co-operation in Opposing Bus Privatisation.
Dear Owen,
I refer to the above and to the recent statement attributed to Mr Willie Noone, in which he refers to consultation with ‘other’ unions with regard to establishing what solidarity actions could be taken in support of colleagues.
You will be aware that as far back as last August our Dublin Bus Branch Chairman corresponded with his counterpart in the SIPTU Dublin Bus Branch suggesting possible cooperation in the campaign against the NTA tendering of publicly-owned bus routes. Furthermore, the NBRU has been quite open in our communications to our members in asking for a united staff representative front against this anti-worker, anti-travelling-public policy.
The breakdown of the LRC process on the 30th March has led to a crystallisation of the chasm between the Trade Union position and that of the NTA.
I note that both of our Unions have now balloted for Industrial Action in response to the impasse and the determination of the NTA to press ahead with the tendering process. Its facilitation by both Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann has obviously added to the frustration amongst Bus Workers.
The NBRU has this morning announced our intention to organise a protest March to Dail Éireann on International Workers Day, 1 May, as part of a day of protest which will also include marches in all the major urban centres. This first day of action is designed to (a) highlight the concerns of Bus Workers in relation to what both Unions contend is a flawed policy and (b)encourage the Government to take a central role in addressing our concerns.
To this end I am now on behalf of the NBRU to request that your Union’s members would join with us in our day of protest on 1 May. This would obviously serve to send out a strong message to our collective membership and the decision makers that when it comes to an attack on Bus Workers we stand United. Now is not a time to allow shop floor hostilities to impede us in the battle against this ill-thought out policy.
Yours Fraternally,
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JOHN MOLONEY
General President
