Bus and rail users face further serious disruption because of the growing row between unions and the Minister for Transport, Mr Brennan.
A renewed campaign of industrial action is likely to be announced next week, unless talks between the two sides on Monday produce an unexpected breakthrough.
Dublin Bus services suffered minor disruption for about four hours yesterday when more than 500 workers attended a SIPTU meeting at Liberty Hall. Only about 10 per cent of drivers rostered for duty attended the meeting, and all of the company's routes remained in operation.
The depth of anger expressed at the meeting, however, suggested that workers would readily engage in more serious industrial action. "I was never at a meeting of that size before. It was frightening to hear the passion being put forward. We are headed for trouble big time," said SIPTU's Dublin Bus branch secretary, Mr Tony Tobin.
A previous campaign of industrial action, affecting bus and rail services throughout the State, was deferred earlier this month when Mr Brennan invited unions to talks. They are to take place on Monday morning, but union leaders are pessimistic about the outcome.
Mr Noel Dowling, SIPTU's senior negotiator, said unions were "extremely sceptical" about the meeting's prospects.
Unions are opposed to Mr Brennan's plans to reform public transport, in particular his intention to privatise 25 per cent of Dublin's bus market this year.
Mr Dowling said unions were prepared to examine ways of improving public transport in the capital. But if the Minister insisted that franchising out routes, and effectively dismantling Dublin Bus, was the only way forward, then unions would oppose that and industrial action would be inevitable.
Mr Tobin said workers had no wish to disrupt the public, but sometimes it was necessary to take industrial action to protect people's livelihoods. "If Mr Brennan wants a fight, he will get if from the Dublin Bus workers."
SIPTU's Dublin Bus, Iarnród Éireann and Bus Éireann strike committees will meet on Tuesday to review the outcome of Monday's discussions.
Rail passengers between Dublin and Westport today may have to use a bus service for part of the route because of a threatened unofficial stoppage. Six drivers based in Westport, members of SIPTU and the ATGWU, have threatened to strike in a row over new rosters.
The matter is go before the Labour Court next Friday. If the action goes ahead, a bus service will operate between Westport and Athlone or Roscommon.
