WORKERS AT BUS Éireann have gone on strike this morning following a dispute over cuts to premium pay and extended working hours which management argues are essential for the bus company to remain viable.
Services throughout the country are likely to be affected by the industrial action today which is being undertaken by the National Bus and Rail Union (NBRU) which represents around 1,100 of the company’s 2,500 staff.
The extent of the strike’s impact on services is likely to become clear later today but travelling passengers are being advised to check the Bus Éireann website for details.
Several private operators are offering services in lieu of the disruption at Bus Éireann. Galway-based Irish Citylink is operating services to Dublin city and airport via Athlone and Limerick with potential customers asked to check timetables and book online.
The dispute at Bus Éireann centres on €5 million of cuts the company is implementing following a Labour Court recommendation. Workers say the cuts to some pay and overtime will result in some of them being down €3,000 to €4,000 a year.
The bus company argues the cuts are necessary for it to remain a viable company and points out that passenger numbers, rising fuel costs and a cut in its State funding have made the cost-cutting necessary.
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