BUS EIREANN is to defer implementing its viability plan by 48 hours, from Monday next, to allow for a judicial review. It will take place at the High Court on Monday, and follows an application by the National Bus and Railworkers Union (NBRU). They argue that the viability plan is in breach of the 1986 Transport (Re Organisation of Coras Iompair Eireann) Act. Meanwhile the NBRU has pledged to support a march organised by SIPTU tomorrow over cost cutting plans at CIE.
It leaves Liberty Hall, Dublin, at noon and will proceed to the company's headquarters at Heuston Station, where letter will be handed to the CIE chief executive, Mr Michael McDonnell.
Mr Ken Fleming, of SIPTU, expressed concern at comments by CIE chief executives about "restrictive practices" in the three companies, which, they said, belonged to a different era. Many of the practices were agreed with management as recently as 18 months ago, he said. He criticised management for "lack of vision" and said it had demonstrated an inability to sustain our jobs for the future".
