There is growing "anarchy" in industrial relations in Iarnrod Eireann, the Minister for Public Enterprise was told by company management yesterday.
The company's human re sources manager said a dynamic had developed where unions were no longer willing to accept "the finality of the bargaining process" but constantly sought more.
Meanwhile SIPTU president Mr Des Geraghty said there was no truth in reports that he had been involved in discussions with senior CIE management or the Department of the Public Service to try to settle the Iarnrod Eireann dispute.
He said that he had a meeting with the secretary-general of the Department to discuss strategic problems relating to all the semi-state companies and it was in that context Iarnrod Eireann was discussed.
He said it was not helpful for such meetings to be portrayed in media as behind-the-scenes efforts to resolve particular disputes. This was best done directly with the union representatives directly concerned.
Management representatives of Iarnrod Eireann were the first group within the company to meet Ms O'Rourke yesterday as she seeks to develop "a new way forward for dealing with the industrial relations environment in Iarnrod Eireann".
She is due to meet union representatives tomorrow.
There still seems little likelihood that strike action by DART drivers next Monday, or further strikes by signallers on Wednesday and Thursday, can be avoided.
Ms O'Rourke has made it clear that she does not intend intervening directly in the rail disputes, but she is known to be anxious to ensure they do not escalate into company-wide action in the run-up to Christmas.
In order to do that she is hoping a format can be found for resolving the logjam that now exists in the system.
Groups such as building trade operatives, engineering craftsmen, gatekeepers, clerical and other grades are becoming increasingly restive because of the slow progress in pay talks with DART drivers and signallers. These have now been going on for over three years.
Mr John Keenan, human resources manager, said after yesterday's meeting with the Minister that he told her he believed the unions shared his concern at industrial relations problems. He added that employees had "a learned expectation" that after going through "a lengthy process of direct talks, conciliation at the Labour Relations Commission, they can continue to seek more.
"The staff no longer recognise the finality of the negotiating process. As a result there is growing industrial anarchy in the company. That is why I have been saying there is a convergence of conflict in the company and that is why I believe the Minister has asked both sides in to brief her."
He said a situation now existed where the Labour Court was no longer issuing recommendations to settle pay disputes because the expectations of staff were so high. Instead, it was telling both sides to go away and try to narrow the gap themselves.