Luas strikes scheduled for Thursday and Friday have been called off as drivers consider new Labour Court recommendations on pay.
Siptu division organiser Owen Reidy confirmed the suspension of the stoppages on RTE’s Morning Ireland on Tuesday morning.
He said: “Normal practice is stoppages would be suspended while proposals are being considered to allow proper consultation and deliberation, that will apply here. The Labour Court asked that we suspend until this process is concluded - that’s what we will be doing. What we’re talking about here is creating some space and time.”
However, he said that this agreement does not include stoppages already planned for next week. “That depends on how people will vote on these proposals. If they are accepted the dispute will be over, if the proposals are rejected then the dispute is not over,” he said.
Mr Reidy said the Labour Court proposal includes a formula in relation to three key issues which were the key reasons to reject the earlier Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) proposals.
He said the pay deal was “broadly similar” to the previous proposal, “but members felt the last time that the pay was structured wrongly and too much of it was in the form of long service increment”.
He said: “On the issue of productivity members felt that the productivity that was sought the last time was too onerous - the nine hours and thirty minutes day was too long and the Court has recommended against that.
New entrants
“The third area on which there is some difference is the area of new entrants. In the last proposal new entrants would come in for the first three years at ten per cent lower - the Labour Court has recommended that a review take place and it is conducted by reference to a review that will take place with public service unions and employers on a similar issue for new entrant gardaí, nurses and teachers.”
When asked if he was happy with the new recommendations, Mr Reidy said: “It’s not a question of whether I’m satisfied or not. It’s a question for 172 drivers. Something that deserves careful consideration and deliberation and debate.
He said he wanted the drivers t make a fully informed decision on the new proposals and that they will then have their say on the deal through secret ballot.
He added that he will be meeting shop stewards today to discuss logistics and make arrangements.
Speaking about the position of the Luas operator, Transdev, he said he thinks the company is considering the proposals. “That’s a matter for them. Think it’s right that neither side would make any knee jerk response. Whatever Transdev is a matter for them,” he said.
He said: “What we will do, irrespective of the company’s view on this, is take a considered view, explain the proposal to our members and facilitate them with a secret ballot.
No group of workers should decide what they are going to do “based on whether their employer is going to do something or not,” he said.
Transdev needs to “make an independent choice on this on the merits or otherwise of the proposals,” he said.
Scheduled Luas stoppages:
Tuesday 7th June - 4 hour stoppage (9am-1pm)
Wednesday 8th June - 4 hour stoppage (6pm-10pm)
Thursday 9th June - 4 hour stoppage (6pm-10pm)
Friday 10th June - 4 hour stoppage (6pm-10pm)