15TH December 2014
NOTICE to MEMBERS
Privatisation of Dublin Bus/Bus Éireann Routes
Meeting with Minister Donohue
The NBRU, along with other Trade Unions, met with the Minister today in relation to the Fine Gael/Labour Government Policy of Privatising Bus Routes and undermining the future employment of Bus Workers.
We informed the Minister that the NBRU remains steadfast in our opposition to the Government’s Privatisation plans and that we view them as an attack on Bus Workers and their families.
We outlined the following as being among the issues which concern our members:
• The residual costs accruing to both Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann from having to absorb a loss of 10% of their routes has the potential to irreparably damage both Companies.
• The argument that the TUPE (transferring of undertakings), which we already had identified as dubious, is a solution to the fears of our members was blown away as a result of the Greyhound debacle.
• The London Model (being replicated here) has swallowed up enormous sums of monies from the taxpayer over the last ten years.
• The London Model has resulted in draconian working conditions for Bus Workers.
• The ongoing issuing of licences to Private Operators is undermining the sustainability of Bus Eireann and is in direct conflict with the National Transport Authority’s guidelines on the issuing of licences.
• Section 52 of the 2009 Public Transport Act prevents both Companies from tendering post-2019.
• The ability of Bus Workers to maintain mortgages and basically support their families will be undermined, thereby forcing those workers to rely on Government supports such as Family Income Support and Social Housing.
• We highlighted the fact that the NTA are duplicating many of the functions of the CIE group and is in danger of becoming a super-quango in the mode of the HSE
• We pointed out that the Irish legislation goes way beyond what is required by Europe.
We highlighted the fact that Private Operators are on record as saying that they would not hire Dublin Bus/Bus Éireann workers under their current conditions of employment.
We also highlighted that Bus Éireann provide circa €110m every year to Private Operators.
The Minister responded, saying that he was a Fine Gael Minister overseeing Government policy and felt that they may be open to challenge should they not move ahead with tendering the 10%. He also stated that he will be going ahead with the tendering of 10%.
There will also be no review of the 2008 DTA Act or the 2009 Transport Act.
He said that he was committed to Public Transport and supported this commitment last week by allocating €100m towards the CIE Group.
He said that he felt that “competitive tension” was needed, hence the 10%.
He said that he would reflect on what we had to say and that he supported the current process at the Labour Relations Commission.
The NBRU advised the Minister that our continued presence at the LRC can only be sustained if it is felt that we can persuade the Government/NTA that there may be alternatives in relation to market entry, similar to what was being discussed as far back as 2004.
We also took the opportunity to remind the Minister that only as recently as the 4th December in respzzonse to a parliamentary question he acknowledged that there were problems associated with implementing the Privatisation Policy.
Our message in this regard was emphatic: if the Minister as shareholder acknowledges that there are problems then he surely has an obligation facilitate a solution.
Our final point to the Minister was that maintaining the current Government/NTA policy will inevitably end up in conflict.
Members will be kept fully informed of further developments.
Issued by the NBRU
15th December 2014