Bus Eireann workers have voted overwhelmingly to reject a Change Plan to prepare the state company for competition, writes Padraig Yeates, Industry and Employment Correspondent.
They have also given their unions a mandate for strike action in the event of the company trying to introduce the plan unilaterally. However Bus Eire ann's operations manager, Mr Paul Kiely, said the company would refer the dispute to the Labour Court.
With 96 per cent of workers rejecting the plan, SIPTU's regional secretary, Mr Noel Dowling, said the gap between the sides was so great it could not be bridged at this stage by the Labour Court. He suggested further intensive talks.
The general secretary of the National Bus and Rail Union, Mr Peter Bunting, who represents the majority of drivers, was also pessimistic that progress could be made at the court. He urged the Minister for Public Enterprise, Ms O'Rourke, not to allow her Department to issue more licences to private operators while talks took place.