The current rail dispute between ILDA and Iarnrod Eireann is in its 13th day. It has placed hardship on our members and their families. It has inconvenienced thousands of rail passengers and severely impacted on Iarnrod Eireann's freight business. It has put jobs under question. All of this is avoidable.
Iarnrod Eireann's proposed new deal for locomotive drivers affects 280 qualified drivers. ILDA represents 130 of these. The others are represented by either SIPTU or the NBRU. ILDA was excluded from negotiation and discussion on these proposals. ILDA members were not consulted, collectively or individually, on these proposals. ILDA members were not afforded a vote on these proposals. These are facts.
The proposals represent the most comprehensive restructuring of locomotive drivers' terms and conditions of service since railways began. They contain all of the following:
an increase in the maximum length of the working day from nine to 11 hours;
an increase in maximum daily mileage from 360 to 420 miles;
the introduction of part-time train drivers;
the elimination of all Sunday and public holiday premium payments;
the inclusion of Sunday as an ordinary mandatory working day;
the introduction of "annualised hours";
the elimination of roster progression for senior drivers;
the loss of three days' annual leave per driver.
ILDA considers all of the above elements to be a worsening of our terms and conditions of employment. Many pose unacceptable safety risks to passengers and staff. Others infringe on our basic statutory entitlements as employees.
The proposals contain the following benefits:
substantial basic pay increase;
96 rest days guaranteed per annum;
much-improved pension (not yet approved).
Following agreement on these proposals by SIPTU and the NBRU, in a ballot which, to swell the numbers, included employees not yet in the locomotive driving grade, the proposals were passed by 112 votes to 83. One hundred and 14 ILDA members were not afforded a vote but signed letters voicing their opposition on the day of the ballot. They were ignored.
Page 39 of the proposals contains an opt-out clause which reads: "Should any depot seek to opt out of the proposed arrangements no agreement will be possible." A majority of drivers in Athlone, Dundalk, Drogheda, Inchicore, Sligo, Mullingar, Westport and Cork wish to opt out in accordance with this clause. They have been ignored. Not consulted, and ignored.
Following agreement with SIPTU and the NBRU, Iarnrod Eireann suddenly discovered they did not have adequate driver resources to provide the 96 rest days guarantee until at least September 2001. To get over this unforeseen problem two Iarnrod Eireann managers and two trade union officials signed an amendment which provides for possible continuous seven-day working in order to guarantee services. There was no ballot on this amendment to the proposals. This is the so-called agreement implemented arbitrarily on June 18th from which this dispute has arisen.
In February ILDA commissioned an independent safety expert from Britain, a man with 35 years' management experience investigating fatal rail accidents, to assess these proposals. He found them unsafe in some respects and requiring risk assessment in their entirety. Iarnrod Eireann belatedly sent these proposals for what everyone was assured was a risk assessment. They chose a respected company, with whom they have a long-standing commercial relationship, to carry it out. The Halcrow Rail report was finalised on May 30th but mysteriously wasn't published until 36 hours before implementation on June 18th. There was no press conference or opportunity to ask questions. The strongest endorsement of the proposals in the Halcrow report is that "the effect on safety is more likely to be positive". Hardly a ringing endorsement.
Nevertheless ILDA members have remained available for work each day since June 18th in line with our agreed work practices. We have not been allowed to take up duty.
The ILDA consultant has formally stated that this report is not a risk assessment but an "opinion". Most alarmingly, the Halcrow report assesses proposals which contain 96 guaranteed rest days per annum, thereby providing rest periods for drivers between shifts. But the proposals implemented provide no guaranteed rest days until at least September 2001. These proposals have been voted on by nobody and their safety implications assessed by nobody. They are a sham.
Why are many ILDA members refusing a 100 per cent pay increase? Are we mad?
THE answer lies in our professionalism and responsibilities. We as drivers, and nobody else, are responsible for the safe movement of our trains. ILDA as a union cannot and will not implement these proposals.
This dispute can only be resolved through dialogue. We are available for dialogue. There is no legal impediment to dialogue. Anything to the contrary is spin-financed from the public purse. ILDA do not have that luxury. Instead we deal in facts.
It doesn't make us popular and we have been threatened and vilified for taking a principled stand. It has cost us a great deal personally and professionally. We believe our members and the travelling public are worth it. If there is any justice left in this State, common sense will prevail and ILDA will be allowed, under whatever umbrella, to resolve these difficulties immediately in the public interest.
Brendan Ogle is executive secretary of the Independent Locomotive Drivers Association.