ONLY SLIGHT disruption to train services is expected early this morning in Cork following an agreement yesterday on striking drivers returning to work.
The agreement, brokered by Tom Pomphrett of the Labour Relations Commission (LRC), was reached at a joint meeting of Siptu and NBRU drivers in the city, who had been involved in an unofficial dispute over the previous eight days.
It is understood the agreement will result in drivers in Cork operating similar, flexible work practices to those in place elsewhere in the country.
This means they will lose the privilege of remaining at home on a fifth consecutive work day until called in by station management as required. Drivers elsewhere are automatically required to turn in on their fifth consecutive day, although they may leave when shunting and any other duties are completed.
The Cork drivers are also expected to lose a week’s pay covering the duration of the wildcat strike. The agreement is also believed to indicate that drivers who engage in unofficial industrial action in the future could face disciplinary procedures.
Iarnród Éireann has withdrawn a controversial requirement for drivers to sign individual undertakings that they will fully comply with existing agreements on flexible work practices and not undertake further unofficial industrial action before returning to work.
The LRC is also to chair talks next Thursday on wider issues associated with the dispute.
Speaking after the agreement was reached, Siptu branch organiser Jackie Pearson welcomed the “mature decision of the drivers” to accept the terms brokered by Mr Pomphrett.
The issue could have been resolved much faster “if the company had handled it better”.
“Having said that, we are glad the dispute is over and passengers are no longer discommoded,” he said, adding that the union hoped outstanding issues could be resolved quickly.
“The fact that they are being dealt with through official procedures is a very positive development for all concerned.”
Throughout the eight days of the strike Iarnród Éireann is said to have lost more then €2 million, and upwards of 75,000 passengers were inconvenienced.
Iarnród Éireann said some residual disruption was to be expected to its early schedule this morning as trains were moved into position. A company spokesman welcomed the agreement on working practices which would now be in place across all depots. He apologised to customers for the recent disruption.
All services will operate normally today with the exception of the following, which are cancelled: 05.25 Tralee/Mallow; 09.15 Tralee/Mallow; 06.15 Cork/Tralee; 07.45 Cork/Mallow; 08.50 Cork/Mallow; 08.30 Mallow/Cork; 09.00 Mallow/Cork; 10.46 Mallow/Cork.
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