The head of the union leading the planned strike at Bus Éireann this Sunday is appealing to management to enter talks before the action starts.

The dispute centres on a cost cutting plan which will lead to pay cuts in order to deal with multi million euro losses.

Michael Faherty of the NBRU says anything can happen once the all out strike begins on Sunday, and there is no way to tell how long it will last.

And he says Bus Éireann management should consider the effect the strike will have on customers and engage in talks before then:

NBRU General-Secretary is Michael Faherty - he spoke to Newstalk's Breakfast this morning: 

Strike action - including a picket Sunday - comes after 83% of union members are refusing to accept cuts worth €5 million over the next year.

Bus Éireann has racked up losses of €27 million over the past 5 years. The government says its very future depends on this cost cutting plan.

The semi-State body has warned that employment cannot be guaranteed in the event of a strike.

Government intervention

Last week Transport Minister Leo Varadkar says the very survival of Bus Éireann now depends on workers there accepting a cost-cutting plan.

He warned that his department would not pump another cent into the company.

While yesterday the Tánaiste appealed for last minute talks to avert such strike action at the firm.

And in the Dáil, Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore was quizzed on the dispute by the Fianna Fáil Transport spokesperson Timmy Dooley.