The likelihood of strike action by transport unions heightened today when up to 500 members of SIPTU and the National Bus and Rail Union condemned the Government's privatisation plans for CIÉ and Dublin Bus.
Union officials said after the "information meeting" in Liberty Hall that the workers were totally opposed to Minister for Transport, Mr Brennan's plans for the break-up of CIÉ and the privatisation of Dublin Bus.
A decision on industrial action will be taken by the unions next Tuesday after they meet Mr Brennan for talks on Monday. However, Mr Tony Tobin of SIPTU said he was not hopeful of resolution. He said there was "real anger" at the Government's plans and warned the Minister that he was "forcing a fight and a fight he'll get".
Bus services in Dublin returned to normal this afternoon after being disrupted by an unofficial work stoppage by staff to coincide with the meeting in Liberty Hall.
SIPTU's Dublin Bus branch and members of the National Bus and Rail Union resolved to go ahead with the stoppage which was originally organised to coincide with a planned protest at Dublin, Cork and Shannon airports today. That action, however, was called off yesterday.