Dublin Bus has expressed concern that the dispute at its Harristown garage in north Dublin could escalate and affect other depots across the city today.
About 60,000 passengers, mainly in the north and west of Dublin, will be without bus services again today as the dispute over rosters for drivers assigned to two new routes, which the company wants to introduce, enters its second day.
Meanwhile thousands of passengers at Aer Lingus face possible disruption next week following a decision by the trade union Siptu to serve notice of four-hour rolling work stoppages from next Tuesday in a row over the implementation of a €20 million cost-cutting plan.
Sources close to the company warned last night that Aer Lingus would not tolerate workers failing to fulfil their duties. The airline recently suspended pilots for failing to comply with management instructions during a dispute.
There was no indication yesterday of any immediate third party intervention aimed at resolving the Dublin Bus dispute. Drivers at Harristown have already rejected proposals put forward by the Labour Relations Commission and the Labour Court.
A Dublin Bus spokeswoman said last night that based on comments made yesterday by trade union sources that it was concerned about a possible escalation of the dispute to six other garages in the capital.
The spokeswoman said that the company would "seriously consider all its option" in the event of unofficial pickets being placed on other depots. She said that company was open to talks but only on the basis of the drivers going back to work and operating the new routes.
The general secretary of the National Bus and Rail Union Michael Faherty said yesterday that unless the dispute was resolved within a day or two people could get frustrated and unofficial pickets could be placed on other garages. He said that this would be regrettable but that it remained a possibility. Individual drivers at Harristown also indicated they would seek support from colleagues in the event of the dispute continuing.
However, it is unclear as to whether this would involve the Harristown drivers seeking support at meetings with colleagues in other depots or by placing unofficial pickets.
The Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey said yesterday he hoped the dispute would not escalate.
Siptu branch organiser Willie Noone last night apologised to passengers for disruption caused. He said the union had warned the company that the unilateral introduction of new routes and the suspension of drivers who refused to operate them would lead to a massive escalation of the dispute.
"Siptu is continuing to explore a number of possible solutions that we believe could lead to a speedy restoration of services to the travelling public while protecting the terms of employment of drivers," he said.
The unions are opposed to plans by the company to have some drivers on these routes start and finish their shifts and take breaks in the city centre rather than at the Harristown. The unions say that this could lengthen the working day of drivers by two or three hours.