SIPTU members working across a range of grades at Dublin Bus have this morning (Tuesday, 30th August) served notice on management of a series of 48-hour work stoppages during September in a dispute concerning pay. The work stoppages will result in a complete shutdown of Dublin Bus services on Thursday 8th and Friday 9th September, Thursday 15th and Friday 16th September, and Friday 23rd and Saturday 24th September. SIPTU Transport, Energy, Aviation and Construction Division Organiser, Owen Reidy, said: “Our members are engaged in a dispute with management concerning what they believe to be a reasonable and fair pay claim. Workers at the company have not had a pay increase for eight years. During that period, they have suffered reductions in earnings and have co-operated with three comprehensive restructurings of the company. “Dublin Bus returned to profit in 2014. Over the last five years there has been an increase in passenger numbers and revenue is up 30%. However, during this period the state subvention to the company has been reduced by a total of 24%. This cut further undermines a transport company whose subvention, in comparison to that provided to bus services in other European cities, was already low.” He added: “In their claim SIPTU members are seeking a 15% pay increase over a three-year period; a payment in lieu of an agreed 6% pay increase which was deferred a number of years ago; shift pay to be pensionable as in Irish Rail; the link between pay and pensions to be maintained and for the company to pay the income continuance contribution for drivers. SIPTU members are also prepared to engage in productivity discussions with management. SIPTU Organiser, John Murphy, said: “Our members deeply regret that it is passengers who will be negatively impacted upon by any industrial action. However, they have decided that they will no longer tolerate a situation where their pay is stagnant or decreased in order to offset the underfunding of the company by the State. “Our members are calling on the management of Dublin Bus to immediately enter into discussions with SIPTU representatives to resolve this situation. However, at this point only a comprehensive agreement on all matters can avoid the commencement of a campaign of serious industrial action.”
SIPTU members in Dublin Bus serve notice of series of 48-hour work stoppages
