SIPTU members in the Dublin Bus Traffic Grade, which includes bus drivers, are to vote on implementing industrial action following their rejection of a Labour Court recommendation concerning pay rises at the public transport company. SIPTU Organiser, John Murphy, said: “At a meeting of the SIPTU Dublin Bus Traffic Grade Committee this morning (Tuesday, 2nd August), a decision was taken to ballot members on industrial action in order to secure a just resolution to the dispute concerning pay and conditions at the company. “SIPTU members in Dublin Bus have expressed anger at the pay increases proposed in the Labour Court recommendation which they overwhelmingly voted to reject last week. Dublin Bus has made significant profits for the last two years and is on target to be profitable, again, this year. “The workers have not had a pay increase since 2008. They deferred a pay increase of 6% due in 2009 and since then have also implemented several measures that have increased productivity and reduced costs for the company.” He added: “The agreement of the workers to introduce such cost reduction and productivity measures was crucial to the stabilisation of financial situation and the company’s return to profitability. The Labour Court recommendation did not in any way recognise or attempt to redress the sacrifices made by the workers during this period. “The ballot of SIPTU members in the Dublin Bus Traffic Grade will be conducted next week. SIPTU representatives are available to meet with the management of Dublin Bus to try to resolve the current dispute. However, the possibility of industrial action, which will unfortunately inconvenience Dublin Bus users, is increasingly likely.”
SIPTU members in Dublin Bus to ballot on industrial action
