Updated 8.30pm
TRAFFIC WAS HEAVY in Dublin city centre this evening as bus drivers in the city continued their strike which kicked off last night.
The five unions involved in the industrial action are due to meet next Thursday and Dermot O’Leary, general secretary of the National Bus and Rail Union, said that this is on the basis that the next phase of the industrial action – the second of three 48-hour strikes – goes ahead.
“It probably will,” he said. O’Leary said that the discussion will be on how best to advance the dispute or advance the members’ claims.
There will be a number of issues on the table that day. One is a potential escalation.
However, he stated that the issue of a potential escalation of industrial action will only be brought up if it is communicated to O’Leary on behalf of workers.
“I won’t be deciding on behalf of my members next Thursday for an all-out strike,” he said. “What I will be doing is taking my lead from them next Thursday.”
He said that if they indicate an escalation of industrial action is something they want discussed, he will bring it to the table on their behalf.
Asked about today’s industrial action, O’Leary said:
“It did show that the workhorse of public transport, the humble bus… was solely missed today and will be sorely missed tomorrow,” describing it as a sad reflection on those running Ireland’s transport industry.
Traffic woes
Dublin Buses were stopped at 9pm last night and will remain off the roads for 48 hours.
Google Map’s traffic monitor at about 6.30pm this evening that traffic is particularly bad around the south side of the quays, but is heavy throughout most of the city centre.
The red lines indicate slow-moving traffic:
A collision has been reported on the M1/M50:
A collision was also reported at North Wall Quay, leading to a stop/go system being put in place.
The Luas was reported by users to have been busy today as people sought alternative means of transport. Irish Rail said that trains were also busy this evening:
Several hundred thousand commuters have been affected by the strike. It’s the first of three 48-hour strikes that will take place over the next three weeks, on 15,1, 23 and 24 September.
Dublin Bus drivers are taking the industrial action over pay. They said this morning that they don’t want to be on strike, but have been forced into the position.
Were you on the roads this evening? Let us know how you found it – but please don’t contact us while you’re driving.
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