THE NATIONAL BUS and Rail Union (NBRU) is to urge its members to vote against coalition parties over plans to privatise part of the bus network.
The move will come as a particular blow to Labour, which is seen as a strong ally of trade unions. General Secretary of the NBRU Dermot O’Leary said that the plan would harm livelihoods.
“The government’s decision to privatise our members’ jobs and engage in what is effectively social dumping coupled with the lack of transport planning needs to be challenged.
“It is our intention to invite all of the candidates in the local elections to public meetings, commencing in Waterford on Tuesday next, in order to ascertain their position on this anti-worker policy. This will assist our members across the CIE Group of companies when it comes to making a decision prior to exercising their franchise at the forthcoming elections”.
O’Leary added that the NBRU will fight the plan. “We have been endeavouring to get the Government and the NTA to understand that our members will not stand idly by and see their livelihoods decimated on the back of an ideological whim.
“Furthermore, we have been unambiguous in outlining our resolve to use every resource at our disposal, including industrial action if necessary, in response to this attack on our members’ jobs.”
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