A one day stoppage by Ulsterbus workers tomorrow will cause disruption to cross-border bus routes, Bus Éireann warned its customers today.
In a statement today Bus Éireann warned: "If the planned strike action goes ahead, there will be no services on connecting cross-border routes operated exclusively by Ulsterbus. These include Belfast/Cavan, Derry/Longford/Athlone, Armagh/Monaghan, Portrush/Monaghan, Enniskillen/Monaghan.
"On the Dublin/Belfast and Dublin/Derry routes, which are operated jointly by Bus Éireann and Ulsterbus, only the Bus Éireann services will operate tomorrow
Ulsterbus drivers are planning a series of five consecutive Friday stoppages running through to November 10th after last ditch talks with Translink - the company that operates Ulsterbus - over a pay rise failed to break the impasse yesterday.
Drivers had turned down an offer of a 3.5 per cent increase, backdated to April together with an extra day's holiday.
They also rejected a revised offer of 5.7%, with the extra day and "minor restructuring" to working practices included.
The basic salaries of drivers are around £13,500 and are supplemented with overtime.
However, a new European directive is going to limit their overtime, prompting the unions' demand for a significant wage increase.
Time table of Bus Éireann services tomorrowOn the Dublin/Belfast route, Bus Éireann services will depart Dublin at 08:00, 10:00, 12:00 and 16:00 serving Canal Court Hotel, Newry and Europa Hotel, Belfast.
Return services will depart Belfast (from outside the Europa Hotel) at 12:15, 14:15, 18:15 and 20:15. Departure point at Newry will be outside Canal Court Hotel.
On the Dublin/Derry route Bus Éireann services will depart Dublin at 09:15 and 11:45, returning from Derry at 14:45 and 17:35.
Dublin/Donegal services will operate as normal and pick up/set-down customers on street adjacent to Enniskillen bus depot.
Dublin/Letterkenny services will operate as normal and pick-up/set down customers adjacent to Omagh depot.
The 16:45 Cavan/Monaghan and 19:20 Monaghan/Cavan will operate as normal.
Customers are advised that these limited services will not be in a position to accommodate people who would normally travel on the Ulsterbus services on these routes.
Additional reporting PA