Transdev urges Siptu to cancel Friday’s Luas strike

Luas operator Transdev has urged trade union Siptu to call off a further planned strike at Dublin’s light rail system on Friday to allow for new talks.

Transdev managing director Gerry Madden said the company was not prepared to offer tram drivers increases that exceeded the 13 per cent over three years, which had been agreed with other grades.

He said this would offer drivers a fair package of remuneration of up to €51,000 per year including a 6.5 per cent bonus.

Mr Madden warned if the dispute continued that Transdev would have to consider other lawful means to bring the dispute to an end and that all the company’s actions to date had been lawful.

Mr Madden said the company was not prepared to put the Luas system at risk during the period of State examinations.

Transdev said in a statement the salary offer with other benefits represented a fair package for tram drivers.

“The ongoing campaign of industrial action by the drivers is reducing the resources available to resolve this dispute and if it continues further it will force the company to consider other lawful means of bringing this dispute to an end,” it said.

“ However, we are not prepared to put the Luas service at further risk during the State Examination period which would be very disruptive to students.”

Further work stoppages by drivers are scheduled to take place next week and in June.

The strike action on Friday is expected to affect about 90,000 people in Dublin.

Transdev said last week it was in a grave situation as a result of the ongoing industrial action but was not looking at laying off drivers.

The firm incurred financial penalties of €414,000 as a result of services being cancelled due to strikes in the period to March 27th.

The financial penalties imposed on Transdev will have been offset to a degree by savings on wages not paid to striking workers and the non-payment ofan annual bonus of 6.5 per cent due to staff this year.

Full list of upcoming scheduled strikes:

- Friday May 20th

- Thursday May 26th - four hour stoppage (3-7pm)

- Friday May 27th

- Thursday June 2nd - four hour stoppage (3-7pm)

- Friday June 3rd - four hour stoppage (9am-1pm)

- Tuesday June 7th - 4 hour stoppage (9am-1pm)

- Wednesday June 8th- 4 hour stoppage (6-10pm)

- Thursday June 9th- 4 hour stoppage (6-10pm)

- Friday June 10th - 4 hour stoppage (6-10pm)