Train drivers’ unions and management will enter talks tomorrow in a bid to resolve an unofficial work stoppage which has left thousands of passengers stranded.
The Labour Relations Commission (LRC) will host exploratory discussions between Iarnród Éireann and unions in Cork over a strike that is estimated to have cost the company around €2 million.
Drivers engaged in so-called 'wildcat' strike action after a driver was taken off the payroll for refusing to carry out duties that were to faciliate training of new drivers.
Up to 20,000 passengers a day have been affected by the dispute, which hit trains on the Cork-Heuston, Cork-Tralee and Heuston-Tralee services.
The drivers yesterday said they would return to work on the basis that continuing their action would only serve to further inconvenience the travelling public, but on arrival drivers refused to sign a document and continued the unofficial action.
All sides involved, including the National Bus and Railworkers’ Union (NBRU) and Siptu, this evening welcomed the intervention which they hope will put an end to the impasse.
An Iarnród Éireann spokesman said the company welcomed the assistance of the LRC and hoped that progress could be made which will assist a swift resumption of rail services in Cork and Kerry.
Siptu branch organiser Jackie Pearson and the NBRU’s Dermot O’Leary said confirmed union representatives will attend the exploratory talks in Cork.
“Hopefully the LRC will be able to find a way out of the impasse that has developed around the basis on which train drivers will return to work,” said Mr Pearson.
Meanwhile, Iarnród Éireann said it expected disruption to continue in Cork and Kerry tomorrow. Almost 20 trains running to and from Dublin will be cancelled, along with all Cork services to Cobh, Mallow and Tralee.
A small number of services will operate on Cork and Kerry routes with bus transfers.
Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey earlier called on the striking train drivers and Iarnród Éireann management to "get together" to resolve the dispute which has seen extensive disruption to intercity rail services.
Mr Dempsey said the dispute was outside the process and mechanisms of State industrial relations, and added: “Wildcat strikes are unacceptable”.
“It’s the kind of thing that gives public sector workers a bad name," he said.
Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey
Commenting on the disruption to trains in the Cork and southwest Mr Dempsey said it was “not good enough that passengers are not getting the service they deserve in this day and age”.
“I am saying to both parties to get together and resolve this dispute.
“I hope I don’t have to wait until the bank holiday weekend for resolution,” Mr Dempsey said as he launched the last Luas Red Line extension from 30 to 40 metres, in Dublin this morning.
Disruption to train services in the Cork and Kerry areas continued today despite a pledge yesterday by drivers involved in the dispute to return to work.
A total of 17 services on routes between Dublin and Cork and Kerry were cancelled yesterday, as were all commuter services in Cork and Kerry.
Flexible working has been at the heart of the recent dispute, which began on Thursday after a driver who was rostered to carry out shunting duties refused to drive a train being used to train new personnel. He was removed from the payroll.
The company has said that under existing agreements drivers can be required to move from operating one train to another during a shift on the basis of customer need.
It is understood that the Cork drivers have argued that under a local agreement the obligation on them to move between duties “as required” only applied in emergency circumstances.
Iarnród Éireann has claimed the withdrawal of co-operation by drivers on flexibility over recent months is aimed at exerting pressure on separate talks between unions and management on reduced working hours.
Additional reporting PA