Exploratory talks aimed at resolving the Dublin Bus dispute are expected to take place today under the chairmanship of Mr Kieran Mulvey, chief executive of the Labour Relations Commission. However, the gap between Dublin Bus and its striking drivers is so wide it still seems likely industrial action will resume on Monday.
Yesterday militant elements within the National Bus and Railworkers' Union and SIPTU were attempting to prolong this week's three-day official stoppage by further unofficial action today. But the general secretary of the NBRU, Mr Peter Bunting, said: "I will be seeking the expulsion of any member of the NBRU who participates in any unofficial action tomorrow in Dublin Bus.
"Any unofficial action by malcontents engaging in wildcat action will not be appreciated by bus workers and their families, because it will ensure the window of opportunity for talks over the next three days will be lost," he said.
The SIPTU national industrial secretary, Mr Noel Dowling, also issued a firm instruction to members to work normally. Earlier in the day he persuaded 800 permanent way operatives to return to work.
Most CIE services are expected to operate normally today. There will be some delays on Iarnrod Eireann as permanent way maintenance crews renew safety checks on tracks. DART and Dublin suburban routes will be fully operational, but some intercity services will be subject to speed restrictions and others may not be restored until tomorrow. Bus Eireann is expected to provide a full service.
The latest peace initiative has come from the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, which also initiated the talks which averted strike action at Dublin Bus in February. The assistant general secretary of Congress, Mr Tom Wall, said last night that he had talked to the two unions and he was "reasonably hopeful" that direct talks with Dublin Bus could make progress.
The Minister for Public Enterprise, Ms O'Rourke, has welcomed the ICTU move as "very helpful". She said she had "always believed that the issues at the centre of the dispute could only be resolved by direct talks between management and unions within the context of productivity and efficiencies".
Last night the chief executive of CIE, Mr Michael McDonnell, was involved in high-level contacts with ICTU. Dublin Bus management is expected to receive a direct invitation to talks this morning. The company's human resources manager, Mr Gerry Maguire, said last night that he was "prepared to examine any proposals that would help a return to work".
The shape of such a formula could prove elusive. Several sources last night indicated that it might involve trying to agree a price for "efficiencies" already offered by the NBRU. These might form the basis for an interim pay award for bus-drivers.
However, it could prove difficult to agree a figure that would be sufficiently attractive for the strikers to suspend next week's action. Nor would such an approach resolve the more fundamental divide between management and the NBRU. Dublin Bus wants self-financing pay increases and the union wants a bigger Government subvention.
One powerful incentive for Dublin Bus unions and management to reach a settlement is that the Cabinet sub-committee on public transport is due to meet on April 11th. The success or failure of the talks could well decide the future of Dublin Bus in those plans.
Yesterday the managing director of Irish Coaches, Mr Donal Hughes, said there were 1,700 licensed private bus operators with 5,000 vehicles willing to apply for public service contracts in the greater Dublin area.