Bus Eireann workers lift pickets to return to work

Commuter misery endured for nearly three weeks has come to an end it seems after the National Bus and Rail Union says its members at Bus Éireann will return to work ahead of a ballot on the Labour Court recommendation.

The Labour Court has been considering the issues in the dispute over cost-cutting measures after talks broke down at the Workplace Relations Commission earlier this week.

In a statement this afternoon, General Secretary Dermot O'Leary said: 'Our contention that major cultural change is imminent has been borne out by this recommendation, we will now move immediately into a consultative phase with our members across Bus Éireann.'

Union members will then hold a ballot on the recommendation.

It comes as SIPTU members in Dublin Bus voted in favour of taking industrial action in support of their colleagues in Bus Éireann.

SIPTU Organiser John Murphy said the drivers grade voted by 67% in favour of industrial action.

Mr Murphy confirmed that executive an clerical grades had voted no, but said the drivers, engineering operatives and craft grades had backed their Bus Éireann colleagues.

The union is holding a similar ballot of members in Iarnród Éireann, with the result expected on 21 April.