Talks aimed at resolving Luas dispute to start next week

New talks aimed at resolving the dispute which has brought Luas services to a standstill for four days this month are to get underway next week.

The director general of the Workplace Relations Commission Kieran Mulvey said he was convening the new talks on foot of meetings he held with representatives of staff at the Dublin light rail system as well as with management on Wednesday.

The discussions between the trade union Siptu, Luas operator Transdev and the Workplace Relations Commission on Wednesday were essentially aimed at determining whether a basis existed for bringing the parties together in a full-scale conciliation process.

In a statement on Thursday Mr Mulvey said: “Having met with both parties in the Luas dispute, the Commission has decided, in the public interest, to enter a series of intensive negotiations with the parties throughout next week and hopefully, through agreement, to avoid any further disruption to Luas services.”

The Minister for Transport Paschal Donohoe said he was encouraged that intensive negotiations were now to take place next week between Luas workers and management.

“It is vital that both sides re-engage fully and that negotiations are conducted in a reasonable manner so that normal Luas services can resume and this dispute brought to an end.”

“It is imperative that every effort is made to ensure a successful outcome to next week’s talks as the Luas is an essential part of Dublin’s transport infrastructure, upon which tens of thousands of commuters, and many Dublin businesses, have come to rely.”

Staff at Luas have sought pay increases of between 8 and 53 per cent as well as improvements in their conditions of employment.

Management has proposed increases in the region of one to three per cent, linked to productivity.

Luas staff are scheduled to stage a further strike on March 8th and another stoppage on March 17th, St Patrick’s Day.

On Wednesday, Siptu divisional organiser Owen Reidy said staff at the Dublin light rail system would rather avoid any further strike action.

However, he said two sides were needed to negotiate in any dispute.

“Up to now we have not had that. It remains to be seen how we can proceed.”

He warned if a new process could not be established, the dispute would “fester and escalate. That is not what anybody needs. It is not what we want.”

Management at Luas operator Transdev earlier said the company hoped staff would substantially modify their pay claim in talks to resolve the industrial action.

Transdev managing director Gerry Madden said if Siptu did revise its claim substantially the new talks stood a chance of succeeding.

However, he said if the union did not modify its demands “the chances become more difficult”.