Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

People had very mixed feelings about the rail strike being called off

Trains ran as normal – just with fewer people on them…

image1 The 7am Dundalk to Dublin Connolly train earlier this morning, which is normally full capacity Stephen Harford Stephen Harford

A RAIL STRIKE due to take place today between 6am and 9am was called off in the early hours of this morning.

Talks between management at Irish Rail and drivers represented by the NBRU and Siptu continued into the early hours.

But just before 4am, Irish Rail tweeted to say the industrial action had been called off, and apologised for the uncertainty caused.

“The outstanding issues between the parties have been referred to the Labour Court,” a statement read. The company apologised to customers for the inconvenience and again repeated claims that the unions had decided not to pursue improved earnings of 7.9%.

The last minute decision to cancel the work stoppage was met by commuters with mixed feelings. Some were happy with the extra few minutes in bed or the empty seats on the trains:

image1The 7am Dundalk to Dublin Connolly train earlier this morning, which is normally full capacity.Source: Stephen Harford

Others were pretty annoyed at how late the strike was cancelled, as people had already made other arrangements for this morning:

In a heated back-and-forth on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Irish Rail's Barry Kenny and NBRU general secretary Dermot O'Leary made it clear the two sides still have a long way to come before a resolution in this dispute can be reached.

O'Leary said the unions had not seen the "willingness that was publicly displayed by the company" and that the issues they wanted to address on behalf of their members were "not given the same levity" as those the company wanted to pursue.

He accused the company of trying to spin the story in its favour with talk of pay rises when in fact any increased earning would be based on workers' productivity.

"There was too much being demanded for workers to self-finance their own deal," he said.

Kenny said the company had already proposed bringing the dispute to the Labour Court in October talks and this would have prevented the major disruption caused by the last work stoppage. He said proposed increased earnings would have to be implemented through productivity measures because the company is losing €1.5 million every month and can only fund pay rises in this way.

- With reporting by Michelle Hennessy.

Read: Unions livid that Irish Rail preemptively briefed reporters on collapsing talks>

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
79 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Conor Power
    Favourite Conor Power
    Report
    Nov 21st 2013, 4:35 PM

    I hope they throw the book at him.

    453
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John Dobermann
    Favourite John Dobermann
    Report
    Nov 21st 2013, 4:36 PM

    Damn – you beat me to it.

    93
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tony Daly
    Favourite Tony Daly
    Report
    Nov 21st 2013, 4:44 PM

    Book him Dano.

    154
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mr L.Jay
    Favourite Mr L.Jay
    Report
    Nov 21st 2013, 4:52 PM

    With help he may turn over a different page

    114
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Elma Phudd
    Favourite Elma Phudd
    Report
    Nov 21st 2013, 5:00 PM

    Or a new leaf?

    111
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tony Daly
    Favourite Tony Daly
    Report
    Nov 21st 2013, 5:05 PM

    The DPP should have no difficulty presenting the Book of Evidence at arraignment.

    88
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute David O'Leary
    Favourite David O'Leary
    Report
    Nov 21st 2013, 5:14 PM

    Surprised an arts and antiques unit exists :/

    77
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute anton de buitlear
    Favourite anton de buitlear
    Report
    Nov 21st 2013, 4:54 PM

    Was he booked

    64
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dave Deering
    Favourite Dave Deering
    Report
    Nov 21st 2013, 5:40 PM

    He was so overdue returning his library books, that they are now historic.

    48
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute n365
    Favourite n365
    Report
    Nov 21st 2013, 4:49 PM

    The book thief

    47
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Harry Webb
    Favourite Harry Webb
    Report
    Nov 21st 2013, 11:53 PM

    I believe one of items was called Booking Bronco!

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jonny Corcoran
    Favourite Jonny Corcoran
    Report
    Nov 21st 2013, 5:48 PM

    *Insert book related joke*

    28
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tony Daly
    Favourite Tony Daly
    Report
    Nov 21st 2013, 4:51 PM

    Take a leaf out of my book and just borrow the book.

    27
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tony Daly
    Favourite Tony Daly
    Report
    Nov 21st 2013, 4:59 PM

    Sticky fingers are bad for book reading, I think

    23
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Beibhinn
    Favourite Beibhinn
    Report
    Nov 21st 2013, 7:44 PM

    It’s sticky pages you need to be careful of.

    17
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tony Daly
    Favourite Tony Daly
    Report
    Nov 21st 2013, 4:55 PM

    Some book worm!

    19
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Darren Bates
    Favourite Darren Bates
    Report
    Nov 21st 2013, 5:51 PM

    Now Tony, you’ve had your fun. Time for your bedtime book.

    14
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute redmarauder
    Favourite redmarauder
    Report
    Nov 21st 2013, 5:30 PM

    This dude will be listed in my black book!

    13
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tony Daly
    Favourite Tony Daly
    Report
    Nov 21st 2013, 5:19 PM

    Well this guy won’t win the Booker Prize.

    12
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tony Daly
    Favourite Tony Daly
    Report
    Nov 21st 2013, 4:52 PM

    The Irish banks have booked much heavier losses.

    12
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jim
    Favourite Jim
    Report
    Nov 21st 2013, 8:48 PM

    Lol

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tony Daly
    Favourite Tony Daly
    Report
    Nov 21st 2013, 5:15 PM

    Is it true that the National Library had written off the missing books?

    10
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tony Daly
    Favourite Tony Daly
    Report
    Nov 21st 2013, 4:57 PM

    I never trusted double entry book keeping.

    8
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Robert Yates
    Favourite Robert Yates
    Report
    Nov 21st 2013, 8:37 PM

    Schhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Maurice Quille
    Favourite Maurice Quille
    Report
    Nov 21st 2013, 6:49 PM

    His booking for Christmas has been confirmed in mountjoy.

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tony Daly
    Favourite Tony Daly
    Report
    Nov 21st 2013, 5:12 PM

    The Book, the Thief, The Wife and her Lover is the name of the film version of this to come out in 2016.

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sheena Richardson
    Favourite Sheena Richardson
    Report
    Nov 22nd 2013, 8:41 AM

    As Groucho Marx said, Outside of a dog, mans best friend is a book… Inside of a dog, it’s too dark to read

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Brianog2
    Favourite Brianog2
    Report
    Nov 21st 2013, 6:39 PM

    No doubt a “hot iron employee”

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Anthony Henley
    Favourite Anthony Henley
    Report
    Nov 21st 2013, 10:30 PM

    Scrum throw the book at him

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute G
    Favourite G
    Report
    Nov 22nd 2013, 9:43 AM

    Congratulations on all the puns .this comment section wins the award for lowest form of wit .

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Declan Carr
    Favourite Declan Carr
    Report
    Nov 21st 2013, 10:17 PM

    Jasus its over booked in here.

    2
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds