DRIVERS AT LUAS have voted in favour of strike action, with a representative saying tonight that 24 or 48 hour stoppages were “quite likely”.
223 Luas employees took part in the Siptu ballot on industrial action following a pay dispute with Transdev, which runs the light rail system.
221 voted in favour of industrial action, with only two people voting against.
The union needs to give 21 days notice of any industrial action.
Drivers on the Dublin electric tram system are essentially seeking pay parity with heavy rail drivers for Irish Rail.
Parity
Speaking on RTÉ’s Drivetime this evening, Siptu organiser Owen Reidy said union officials would discuss possible formats of industrial action next week.
“I anticipate that given the result and the fact that it is emphatic that there will be a lot of frustration, and the ballot can allow us to do 24 and 48 hour stoppages,” Reidy said.
He said the union had been talking to management for 18 months but had been “getting nowhere”.
Drivers are seeking increases of up to 40% on pay.
Currently, the top salary after ten years of service is around €42,000.
Siptu’s calling for an increase in the starting salary to €35,000 – up from €32,000 – rising to €60,000 after ten years.
Strike action won’t take place until February at the earliest.
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