Train drivers return to work with warning of 'tough talks'
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TRAIN drivers have voted to return to work in Cork after a bitter eight-day unofficial strike -- but business leaders and commuters expressed anger at a 12-hour delay in the resumption of services.
The 50 Cork-based locomotive drivers yesterday voted at a joint SIPTU-NBRU union meeting to accept a Labour Relations Commission (LRC) compromise hammered out after 20 hours of exhaustive talks with Iarnrod Eireann management.
Yesterday's meeting -- at lunchtime in a Cork city centre hotel -- rubber-stamped the deal agreed on Wednesday night in Mallow after marathon LRC hosted talks.
Drivers did not return to work until midnight -- 12 hours later than had originally been hoped for.
Misery
That meant an eighth day of misery for rail passengers travelling to and from Cork and Kerry.
Fine Gael leader, Enda Kenny, who was visiting Cork, stressed that vital national transport services need to be maintained.
"We live in a country where time is of the essence. I hope that the machinery and structures can be put in place to see that the services people pay for through their taxes are provided," he said.
The dispute erupted on May 22, when a driver was removed from the payroll after he refused to operate a locomotive to facilitate new recruit training.
Cork train drivers immediately launched unofficial industrial action in support of their colleague.However, while some disruption was caused to western rail services, the dispute did not spread to the Dublin area rail network.
But mainline and urban rail services were all paralysed from Cork's Kent Station-- and a full return to normal operations is not expected to be achieved until lunchtime today.
Iarnrod Eireann last night warmly welcomed the drivers return to work -- and expressed hope that the LRC agreement will ensure the future continuity of services is protected.
Under the terms of the deal it has been agreed that: l both sides will attend LRC talks next Thursday to address wider issues.
l workers will liaise with their unions and management in a bid to avoid future unofficial stoppages.
l Iarnrod Eireann will fully withdraw a document asking for a written commitment from drivers to flexible rosters and no further wildcat strikes.
Incensed
Last night, SIPTU branch organiser, Jackie Pearson, welcomed the resolution of the row -- but warned that drivers are incensed by Iarnrod Eireann's handling of the issue.
"There will be some tough talking done because some things took place which were a little out of order. I must say that the membership were incensed by the (position) they found themselves in. Let me make it abundantly clear, the members in Cork behaved as a result of the first action by management. Management caused this -- incorrectly in our view," he said.
But the SIPTU boss paid tribute to the way drivers ratified the LRC compromise. "It was a very constructive meeting," he said.
- Ralph Riegel
