Bus Éireann Strike Continues

A strike by Bus Éireann staff in the Republic is affecting some cross-border services, as the action enters a second day.

Services between Dublin and L'Derry, as well as between Dublin and Belfast, have been halted; however Northern Ireland's Translink is still operating along these routes.

The strike was organised by members of the National Bus and Rail Union (NBRU) who are employed by Bus Éireann.

The transport company is implementing a 5m euros (£4.2m) cost-cutting plan. It released a statement on Monday apologising to customers and detailing the affected routes.

Strike action began on Sunday 12 May.

Sinn Féin Workers’ Rights spokesperson David Cullinane said all sides needed to return to the table and resolve the dispute.

He said: "While there is a need to ensure the ongoing viability of Bus Éireann, we are also very conscious of the fact that many of those employed by Bus Éireann are low to middle income workers, who have already taken significant hits to their income, and cannot afford to take further cuts. In that context, it is perfectly understandable that they would refuse to accept these paycuts.

"We do not believe that these workers would take the decision to strike at all lightly, however the NBRU believes that some drivers could lose between €3,000 and €4,000 a year if these pay cuts go ahead, which is a very significant sum of money for low to middle income earners, and that is not acceptable.

"The government also needs to take responsibility for this situation. It has consistently under-funded public transport, and this has led to reductions in services, and this current move by the company to hit ordinary workers.

"The priority is to ensure that the wages of ordinary workers are protected, and that Bus Éireann continues to provide services to communities all over Ireland. The best way to ensure that is to resolve this dispute and ensure that services are resumed as soon as is possible."

(IT/CD)