Dublin Bus unions reject pay offer of 6% over four years

Dublin Bus is understood to have offered staff pay increases of about 6 per cent over four years.

However, informed sources said on Tuesday night the proposal of about 1.5 per cent per year has been rejected by trade unions representing staff at the State-owned bus company.

Talks between unions and management at the company are expected to resume at the Workplace Relations Commission on Thursday.

Dublin Bus said it was engaged in a process with trade unions at the Workplace Relations Commission. It said this process had been recommened originally by the Labour Court.

“This is an ongoing process which we will continue to engage positively in with all parties therefore we cannot provide any further information at this time,” the company said in a statement.

Social partnership agreement

The National Bus and Rail Union (NBRU), one of the unions involved in the current process, had indicated previously that it would be seeking increases of between 6 and 13 per cent dating back to a social partnership agreement in 2009.

The union also signalled that in addition it would would be looking for rises similar to those which may be secured by drivers at the Luas light rail system.

The NBRU contended that pay for staff in Dublin Bus had fallen behind that of Luas personnel.

Meanwhile talks between Luas driversand management at Transdev, the operator of the light rail system, are to recommence on Monday in a bid to resolve the long-running pay dispute at the company.