SIPTU Bus drivers will place pickets in over 30 locations across the country on Friday, 1st May, as they engage in strike action aimed at protecting services and decent jobs from the threat of privatisation. The strike is one of four scheduled to take place during May with further days of action on Saturday, 2nd May, Friday, 15th May and Saturday, 16th May.Emergency talks, facilitated by the Labour Relations Commission, between representatives of the transport unions, Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann ended without agreement this afternoon (Thursday, 30th April).SIPTU Construction and Utilities Division Organiser, Owen Reidy, said: “It is regrettable that these discussions have ended without any progress. Unfortunately, there was nothing new from the employers in relation to the concerns expressed by SIPTU members about the impact of the proposed privatisation of 10% of bus routes on their jobs and the quality of the service to the public.”He added: “After months of talks the bus companies have refused to meaningfully engage with SIPTU members on their six point agenda which outlines their concerns over the proposed privatisation plans. In the face of this intransigence our members have been left with no option but to embark on a campaign of industrial action which will cost them financially and cause severe inconvenience to the travelling public which they are proud to serve.”
SIPTU Bus drivers to strike to protect services and decent jobs
