The National Bus and Rail Union (NBRU) has postponed any further talks with the Department of Transport on the future of Dublin Bus after it said officials have not honoured a commitment to give a "definitive response" to the CIE unions on their concerns about the minister's plans for the group.
The NBRU said its executive would hold a special meeting on Saturday to consider its future involvement, "if any", in the talks.
Speaking after he left a meeting with Department of Transport officials today, NBRU general secretary Ms Liam Tobin said: "The department has failed to provide us with their definitive response on the future of Dublin Bus that they promised today."
"This is the third time they have failed to meet their own deadlines and we are now being told that no date can be given because the Minister is still discussing the issues with his Cabinet colleagues."
Mr Tobin said that, meanwhile, more licences are being issued to private operators, including multinational companies such as First Group. He said some NBRU members in Bus Eireann were being told they may be made redundant as a result.
"We entered these talks in good faith and for a time they appeared to be productive, but we are beginning to wonder seriously if we are being strung along while Bus Éireann and Dublin Bus are quietly dismembered. The situation is now quite critical," Mr Tobin said.
He said the union was told on May 18th it would be given a definitive response today in discussions on Dublin Bus. However, Department of Transport officials today said the minister had not decided what his response would be, Mr Tobin claimed.
"Given what has been happening with Bus Éireann we feel we have little choice but to call a special meeting of our national executive as soon as possible and decide our next course of action.
"Why the minister needs to consult his Cabinet colleagues is a bit of a mystery to us as the Government's transport policy in the bus sector is not in dispute. If the minister wants to do something useful, quickly, he could tighten up the scandalously lax way in which private bus licences are being issued. There is no competitive tendering, no conditions imposed on licence holders regarding terms of employment for workers and no social service obligation."