Luas drivers expected to serve notice for more strikes

Luas drivers are expected to serve notice over the coming days for further strikes at the Dublin light rail system.

About 90,000 passengers will face travel disruption on Wednesday as drivers stop work as part of their on-going campaign for improved terms and conditions.

Further stoppages are already planned for Friday, May 13th; Friday, May 20th; Thursday, May 26th (four hours from 3pm–7pm) and Friday, May 27th.

However, informed sources suggested that either later this week or early next week, additional strikes will be announced.

Transdev will face a financial penalty of about €100,000 from the State under the terms of its contract for failing to provide a tram service on Wednesday.

Staff at the company have already lost their annual 6.5 per cent bonus payment for this year in addition to forfeiting pay for days on which they were on strike.

However, Transdev confirmed on Tuesday that only staff actually rostered for duty for strike days and who fail to work have their pay docked.

Pay cut

Last week Luas operator Transdev unilaterally introduced a 10 per cent pay cut after drivers failed to lift an on-going work-to-rule which has been in place for a number of weeks alongside strikes.

Transdev has warned staff deeper pay cuts could be imposed in the future while it also said it was continuing to consider other options such as lay-offs or short-term work for drivers who continue to strike or work-to-rule.

Last week three other, non-driver, grades at Luas accepted a pay deal of about 13 per cent over three years in addition to a one-off payment of €750.

Transdev argued that the drivers’ claims were unaffordable.

Last Friday Siptu maintained that the gap between the the union and the company was only 3.5 per cent over five years .

It said its members hoped that Transdev would “reflect on its actions and return to the negotiating table”.