CIÉ workers in SIPTU are voting on industrial action in protest at moves by the Government to break up the State transport group.
The vote by workers in SIPTU follows a similar move by the National Bus and Railworkers Union, who have voted by a huge majority to take industrial action.Workers at Dublin Bus have already staged one short stoppage.
A vote in favour of action by SIPTU would greatly increase the likelihood of a strike.
The Minister for Transport, Mr Brennan, has already said that he expects a "summer of discontent" over his plans, a comment which is believed to have infuriated certain trade unionists.
Some sources in the political system believe that strike action during the summer is inevitable.
SIPTU's industrial secretary, Mr Noel Dowling, said ballots would close on May 16th. He believed action might begin a month later, but said students sitting exams would not be disrupted.
The looming confrontation over the future of CIÉ comes as Mr Brennan prepares in the coming weeks to bring plans to the Cabinet to separate the Aer Rianta airports at Dublin, Cork and Shannon and establish an independent terminal at Dublin. It is thought that the unions in Aer Rianta are also contemplating industrial action.
Mr Brennan is understood to have received support from the Government for initial plans.
It is believed that progression of both plans was deliberately slowed down when the Government was negotiating the new national agreement, Sustaining Progress, with the unions. With the deal finalised, Mr Brennan is now said to be pushing ahead.
Crucial to the discussion on the future of CIÉ is a suggestion that the group's land bank could be used to part-fund a transformation agreement with staff.
