Mr Ciaran Masterson

Director, Human Resources

Iarnród Éireann

Connolly Station

Dublin 1

30th July 2105

Re: Loco Drivers Productivity/Contribution

Dear Sir,

I refer to the above and recent discussions facilitated by the Labour Relations Commission.

You will be aware that the NBRU has been consistent in advancing the notion that Past Productivity would have to be materially recognised in advance of any discussions on future productivity.

You will be further aware that both Driver representative Unions made it unambiguously clear at our most recent meeting at the LRC that the Company would have to have a stated position on Past Productivity in advance of any further discussions.

For the record, it should be noted that the Draft Discussion Document titled ‘Driver Productivity Proposal’ presented by the Company is not an acceptable basis by which to begin discussions on Loco Drivers terms and conditions.

Our members in the Loco Driving Grade have become totally disillusioned with how their grade has been treated by the Company, they have looked, as it were, over the wall at their neighbours in different grades and seen some of the progress being made.

Whilst they would acknowledge and support other grades in achieving a betterment of their terms and conditions, they feel they themselves have been ignored and side-lined for far too long, particularly given the fact that they have had significant additional responsibility attached to their job-spec.

It is now felt that the time has long since passed when serious discussions on what drivers have delivered should commence. Ignoring such a clamour for movement on this issue will inevitably result in conflict.

It may be that certain elements within the Company may view the notion of conflict with disdain, to do so would be irresponsible and would do a disservice to staff and customers alike.

The NBRU intends to engage in a consultative process with our Loco driver members over the next two weeks in order to listen to their concerns; one expects that the recent positive and Company fan-fared revenue improvements will feature at those engagements.

Finally, the attached document is being advanced as the basis to begin discussions on an acceptable formula to address what Loco Drivers have already delivered.

Yours Sincerely

______________

DERMOT O’LEARY

General Secretary

Copy/ Mr John Kelly Labour Relations Commission