SIPTU members in Dublin Bus have been united in their support of strike action at the company, which is set to enter its second day tomorrow (Friday, 9th September), as they highlight their demand for a reasonable pay rise and the need for more State funding for public transport. SIPTU Transport, Energy, Aviation and Construction Division Organiser, Owen Reidy, said: “The over 1,500 SIPTU members employed by Dublin Bus have been resolute in their support for the strike action which began today (Thursday, 8th September) at 12.01 and will end at midnight tomorrow. “The workers have been humbled by the support shown to them by members of the public on picket lines at bus depots across the city. It is clear that a majority of those who use public transport support our members in their demand for fair pay and sufficient State funding for a bus service which is vital to communities across the city.” He added: “Such understanding is unfortunately not evident in the approach of management and the Department of Transport. We are yet to receive any indication that they are willing to engage in serious talks about our members’ reasonable pay claim or the provision of a medium to long term sustainable funding model for Dublin Bus. Unfortunately, due to this intransigence our members will be back out on the picket line tomorrow and are prepared for further industrial action until this situation changes.” SIPTU Organiser, John Murphy, said: “Dublin Bus returned to profitability in 2014. This is despite the reduction of the State subvention to the company by 24% in the last six years. There was also the unacceptable situation last year where the National Transport Authority took €2 million from the company’s profits as it deemed them to have been too high. “Meanwhile, workers at the company have not had a pay rise in eight years. This situation is unsustainable. Despite our members’ hard work, which has succeeded in returning the company to profitability, many are under serious financial pressure. Several are reliant on Family Income Support payments from the State to make ends meet.” The action by the SIPTU members and their colleagues, in the four other unions in Dublin Bus, has resulted in a complete shutdown of public bus services throughout the city. The striking bus workers are holding pickets at all seven Dublin Bus depots as well as the company’s head office on O’Connell Street, Dublin 1, which will resume at 5.00 a.m. tomorrow (Friday, 9th September). SIPTU and the other four Dublin Bus unions have served notice for two further 48-hour work stoppages on Thursday 15th and Friday 16th September, and Friday 23rd and Saturday 24th September.
SIPTU Dublin Bus members united in strike action to defend decent jobs and services
