The leader of striking Dublin Bus workers, Mr Peter Bunting, has attacked the ICTU general secretary, Mr Peter Cassells, and the SIPTU president, Mr Des Geraghty, for attempting to "demonise" his members.
The comments of the general secretary of the National Bus and Rail Union (NBRU) have underlined the isolation of the union within the wider movement.
Both the unions at Dublin Bus, SIPTU and NBRU, are to meet management this afternoon to discuss the issue of a free rush-hour service for commuters during this week's three-day strike. Agreement is thought unlikely, as is the likelihood of the talks being extended to discuss the 20 per cent pay claim from the NBRU. Yesterday, the NBRU general secretary, Mr Bunting, turned his criticism on fellow trade union leaders. Referring to reports in the Sunday newspapers that senior sources within the movement were critical of NBRU strategy, Mr Bunting said: "If Des Geraghty or Peter Cassells or anyone else wants to demonise the NBRU, they should come out and say it." They were giving substance to those right-wing forces that oppose decent rates of pay for bus workers, he said. The NBRU was an independent trade union that would not be dictated to, he added. Mr Bunting also attacked a proposal by the Progressive Democrat spokeswoman on transport, Senator Helen Keogh, to introduce temporary licences for private bus operators to serve Dublin's commuters during the strike.
"If someone thinks scab labour is going to solve the problem, one hopes she has enough buses to provide public transport throughout Ireland. I'm trying to dampen down pressure from members elsewhere to join this dispute, and she's undermining me," Mr Bunting said.
"The people of Cork and Limerick won't thank her if they have to walk to work. The more people attack the NBRU, the more its members will stand together."
However, Mr Bunting seemed to moderate the NBRU position slightly when he said that describing the union's 20 per cent claim as one with "no strings attached" was not correct. He said the union had identified areas where potential efficiencies could be achieved, but it was "not going down the road of giving away business by contracting out the work of 200 buses".
The head of human resources at Dublin Bus, Mr Gerry Maguire, said that major savings could be made by contracting out some of the company's unprofitable routes. It had already done so, with 50 or 60 private buses providing a service to schools.
There was no threat to existing jobs or working conditions, he said. The fleet would be expanded by over 450 vehicles between now and 2005, even if the unions accepted contracting out.
Mr Maguire denied media reports that the Army had been asked to be on standby if this week's strike went ahead. Mr Maguire said the company had not been in contact with the Army. As tomorrow's strike deadline approaches, there will be mounting pressure on the Labour Court and the Labour Relations Commission to intervene in the dispute. However, it is unlikely that either body will do so unless it receives a clear signal from the main parties.