Five days of rail stoppages
Union members at Iarnród Éireann announce a series of rolling 24 hour stoppages
In a statement, they said: “Following a meeting this afternoon, the Trade Union Group representing all workers at Irish Rail, in pursuance of a long overdue flat pay award, have decided to serve notice on the Company for the following series of industrial actions:
1. Wednesday November 1st 24 hour Work Stoppage full withdrawal of labour and the placing of pickets
2. Tuesday November 7th 24 hour Work Stoppage full withdrawal of labour and the placing of pickets
3. Tuesday November 14th 24 hour Work Stoppage full withdrawal of labour and the placing of pickets
4. Thursday November 23rd 24 hour Work Stoppage full withdrawal of labour and the placing of pickets
5. Friday December 8th 24 hour Work Stoppage full withdrawal of labour and the placing of pickets
The Trade Union Group will conduct reviews on an ongoing basis and may decide to escalate the action by way of increased frequency and duration.
Ths statement adds: "The responsibility for this dispute lies squarely with the CEO and his management team at Irish Rail. The treatment meted out to staff over the last number of months, and in particular the debacle which occurred at the WRC last evening, has been nothing short of contemptuous and will make a resolution to this dispute even more difficult, if not now impossible.
"It is an unfortunate consequence that tens of thousands of commuters are now going to be discommoded as a result of the intransigence of Irish Rail."
SIPTU TEAC Division Organiser, Greg Ennis, said: “SIPTU representatives met with officials of the four other trade unions in the Irish Rail Group of Unions this afternoon and finalised an agreed campaign of targeted industrial action.”
He added: “While the impending industrial action is regrettable and will no doubt affect the travelling public our members believe they are left with no option but to pursue such a course on foot of the procrastination by management over what is a reasonable pay claim and which is in line with similar pay awards within the CIE group and wider transport sector.”
SIPTU has 1,900 members working in Irish Rail.