Second union at Iarnród Éireann warns of possible strike action

A second trade union at Iarnród Éireann has warned of potential strike action on the country's railways in the weeks ahead in a dispute over payments for past productivity.

The trade union Siptu has said that industrial action by rail staff was increasingly likely if management at Iarnród Éireann maintained its current approach.

Another union at the State train company, the National Bus and Rail Union (NBRU), had already warned that strike action will be considered next week following the collapse of talks with management over pay for past productivity measures.

Iarnród Éireann said it was still losing more than €1 million per month and was not in a financial position to agree to productivity claims

In a statement on Wednesday, Siptu organiser Paul Cullen, said: "Despite the best efforts of the Labour Relations Commission the company refused to engage in discussion on past productivity despite this being part of an agreement between trade unions and management in September 2014."

“In this deal our members accepted cost containment measures with the company in return accepting that past productivity improvements would be discussed prior to any future agreement. The company has failed to live up to its commitment.”

Mr Cullen said “the confrontational attitude” adopted by management during talks on Tuesday was part of a wider deterioration in its approach to industrial relations .

“Siptu drivers in Iarnród Éireann will be meeting next week to discuss our response to the breakdown of the Labour Relations Commission talks. If Iarnród Éireann management maintains its current approach it makes industrial action by our members increasingly likely.”

The general secretary of the NBRU Dermot O’Leary said a clause in a deal reached a year ago ,which provided for a 1.7 percent pay cut over 25 months, allowed for staff to engage with management on additional productivity measures and additional responsibilities taken on by train drivers over recent years.

He said train drivers at Iarnród Éireann were concerned that there conditions of employment had slipped and that those enjoyed by similar personnel in Northern Ireland and Britain were now far superior.

Iarnród Éireann said it was still losing more than €1 million per month and was not in a financial position to agree to productivity claims .

It said the unions had created “unrealistic expectations” among members.

A spokesman said the deal reached last year said the issue of past productivity was entirely separate.