BUS ÉIREANN SAID it will operate ‘as many services’ as possible today, as staff undertake a break in their industrial action for 48 hours.

The news of the suspension of the strike – which is in protest at the company’s decision to introduce cost-saving pay cuts – came late last night, following intervention from the Labour Relations Commission.

The cost of the industrial action has reached around €500,000, Andrew McLindon of Bus Éireann told RTÉ radio’s Morning Ireland.

Following the talks, Bus Éireann told customers that the industrial action is suspended for 48 hours and that it will seek to operate as many services as possible from this morning.

Customers are advised to check www.buseireann.ie today for latest updates on the operation of services.

It said that:

• All commuter services in the greater Dublin area are operating
• All inter-city services from Dublin are operating
• All services in the North-West and South-West operating normally
• City, inter-city and provincial services are operating in Cork, Limerick, Galway, Clare, Kerry, Mayo, Donegal, Sligo
• Services in other regions are due to begin service shortly
• All school buses are operating as normal

Bus Éireann said it would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused to customers over the last two days.

Talks

Bus Eireann trade union and management representatives will begin a 48-hour period of intensive engagement at the LRC today, with the aim of reaching a conclusion to the dispute.

This comes following three hours of separate discussions at the LRC involving representatives of trade unions and management at Bus Éireann, which concluded just after 11pm last night.

At the request of the LRC, Bus Éireann has agreed to suspend the implementation of a Labour Court recommendation affecting workers terms of employment and unions have suspended all forms of industrial action, said SIPTU.

SIPTU sector organiser, Willie Noone, said:

SIPTU shop stewards at the CIE group of companies will meet today in Liberty Hall, Dublin, in preparation for union representatives meeting with the LRC.

The meeting will include shop stewards in driver, inspector, clerical and craft grades in Bus Éireann. At the meeting shop stewards from Dublin Bus and Irish Rail will be informed of developments in the dispute at Bus Éireann.

A count of a ballot for strike action by SIPTU members in Bus Éireann will take place, as scheduled, on Thursday at 11am.

Read: Bus Éireann services to resume for next 48 hours>