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NBRU Bus Éireann workers vote to accept Labour Court recommendations

Members of the National Bus and Rail Union (NBRU) have voted to accept Labour Court recommendatio...
Newstalk
Newstalk

16.42 22 May 2017


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NBRU Bus Éireann workers vote...

NBRU Bus Éireann workers vote to accept Labour Court recommendations

Newstalk
Newstalk

16.42 22 May 2017


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Members of the National Bus and Rail Union (NBRU) have voted to accept Labour Court recommendations on the Bus Éireann dispute.

The vote was 67% in favour of the recommendations.

The dispute - which centred around proposed cost-saving measures at the embattled company - led to a three-week strike by workers.

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The strike was lifted after the Labour Court recommendations were issued last month.

SIPTU and Unite workers have already voted to accept the measures.

A statement from the union says its members will remember the "shameful behaviour" of transport officials "in the creation of the circumstances which led to this dispute".

General Secretary Dermot O'Leary said: "We remain prepared to engage in further industrial action if Bus Éireann attempt to force change on our members in advance of the absolute necessity to jointly manage the implementation of the range of measures contained in the Labour Court Recommendation.”

Welcoming the results of the unions' ballots, Transport Minister Shane Ross said: "I would once again like to thank the Workplace Relations Commission and the Labour Court for their efforts to successfully bring about a settlement to this dispute. These institutions have once again shown that such disputes; however intractable; can be resolved by responsible parties.

"On that note, I would also like to thank management, trade unions and employees for their hard work to resolve this difficult dispute."

Separately, the NBRU criticised Leo Varadkar's position on restricting strikes for certain workers.

In his policy manifesto, Minister Varadkar says: "We will legislate to make Labour Court recommendations binding on employers and unions in essential public and security services as determined by the Oireachtas."

Mr O'Leary compared the Social Protection Minister - who is currently enjoying a significant lead in the Fine Gael leadership race - to Margaret Thatcher, and said the measures would be draconian.


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