There is a threat of renewed confrontation between Iarnrod Eireann and train drivers on mainline services because of a dispute over rest days.
The company cannot restore a full service without some rest-day working and is expected to send letters to nearly 100 mainline drivers who are refusing to work any rest days, advising that they could face disciplinary procedures.
Most of these drivers are members of the Irish Locomotive Drivers' Association, but a small number of SIPTU and National Bus and Railworkers' Union members also are refusing to work rest days.
With all drivers working the company is attempting to provide a full service and needs a significant number of rest days to be worked until new trainees come on stream. In some depots this could take until September 2001.
Yesterday ILDA executive secretary Mr Brendan Ogle said "the vast majority of ILDA members are not working rest days". He said: "The position is very clear. We were requested by the Labour Court and the Labour Relations Commission to work the `new deal' under protest. We acceded to that request and are working the `new deal' only."
This provides for 96 rest days a year and ILDA members would be utilising these days fully. However, SIPTU and the NBRU agreed to work an interim agreement that allows for some rest days to be worked on an overtime basis. The company is insisting ILDA members do likewise and points out that the Labour Court/LRC return-to-work formula called on ILDA members to operate "the current agreement".
The human resources manager of Iarnrod Eireann, Mr John Keenan, said the company has "indicated to drivers around the country that it cannot sanction a situation where drivers are indefinitely absenting themselves from part of their rosters". He said not all depots are affected by the problem and that in Mr Ogle's own depot at Athlone full rest days will be guaranteed from next month, when four new drivers begin work.