SIPTU members who work as drivers with Dublin Bus have voted by a majority of 95% for industrial and strike action in the pay dispute at the company. SIPTU clerical members also voted to support industrial action and strike action by 87% and 80%, respectively. The ballot for industrial and strike action by SIPTU members follows their rejection of the recent Labour Court recommendation on pay at Dublin Bus. SIPTU is the largest union in the company, representing seven different categories and grades. The ballots by the other five grades are continuing and further counts will be completed by Tuesday (16th August).SIPTU Divisional Organiser for Transport, Energy, Aviation and Construction, Owen Reidy, said: “This result today demonstrates the determination of members to bring this pay dispute to a fair conclusion. Drivers and other workers at the company have not had a pay increase for eight years, have suffered reductions in earnings over the recessionary period and have been through three comprehensive restructurings during that time. The company returned to profitability in November 2014 and, over recent years, passenger numbers and revenue have increased accordingly. It is now past time for the pay of Dublin Bus workers to increase.“We are prepared to engage with the employer on issues of productivity in addition to a general wage round agreement. We would urge Dublin Bus to return to the bargaining table immediately to reach a new agreement to avoid the very real prospect of 24 and 48 hour stoppages and perhaps an indefinite all out strike in Dublin Bus. We intend to meet with our members next week to discuss and plan a sustained campaign of action in order to reach a satisfactory outcome.”All unions at the company submitted a pay claim of 15% over three years commencing from January 2016. They also agreed to seek a retrospective pay increase in lieu of the 6% from a previous national pay agreement that was deferred. Improvements such as maintaining the link between pay and pensions and making shift pay reckonable for pension purposes in line with sister company, Irish Rail, are also being sought.
SIPTU members in Dublin Bus vote overwhelmingly for industrial and strike action over pay
