UP TO 150,000 Dublin Bus passengers are likely to be left without a service today for the second day as an unofficial strike at two of the company’s depots on the city’s northside looked set to continue.
Drivers at Harristown and Clontarf depots withdrew their services in protest over the introduction of service changes.
The dispute means that 25 routes are not operating, while a further 15 offer only a limited service. Areas affected by the action include Ballymun, Finglas, Donabate, Swords, Blanchardstown, Rathmines, Blackrock and Kimmage.
The strike is not sanctioned by Siptu or the National Bus and Rail Union (NBRU), but has been organised by a group called the Bus Workers’ Action Group.
Last night, Eugene McDonagh of the group said that “contact calls were being made” and he was awaiting further contacts. He said it looked then like the dispute would continue today, but “the situation could change” very quickly.
Drivers at the depots were unclear yesterday evening whether the protests would continue today. However, several drivers at the Clontarf garage said they would only continue to support the Harristown drivers if all other depots joined in the strike today.
The protest started after Dublin Bus suspended a driver for refusing to work the new schedule on the 128 Baldoyle-to-Rathmines service.
Of the 2,860 drivers employed by Dublin Bus, 450 are based at the Harristown depot. Those who were rostered to drive stopped work in sympathy with the driver before the dispute escalated to the 250-strong Clontarf depot.
Twenty of the 90 rostered drivers at Clontarf returned to work yesterday, while almost all rostered drivers at Harristown remained off duty, although two of the late-shift drivers returned to work. A picket at that depot was disbanded at about 5pm, but the dozens of buses on the lot remained out of service.
A Dublin Bus spokeswoman said the changes to schedules were introduced on a number of routes across the city as part of its plans to take 120 buses out of service in an effort to save €31 million annually.
Both unions agreed at the Labour Court earlier this month to accept the cost-saving proposals. However, drivers at Clontarf yesterday said the affected workers had not been given adequate notice of their new rosters.
“People at Harristown were handed their bill [roster] on Friday, the company should have been given adequate time to look at it, instead of trying to force it through,” said Derek Rockwell, a driver with the company for 18 years.
There were several incidents where rosters were “illegal” as they had insufficient breaks, Mr Rockwell said. “If it suits the company to break the law, they will,” he said.
The spokeswoman for Dublin Bus said the company was willing to discuss the new rosters, but could only do so once the drivers had returned to work.
She apologised to commuters for the disruptions and said drivers were also causing hardship to themselves as they would not be paid while they were absent from work on unofficial industrial action.
“We’re hopeful that the drivers who are still taking part in this action will follow the example of those who have returned to work. We will talk to drivers about the new schedules, but only provided that they do return to work.”
Traffic in the city was considerably heavier during rush hours yesterday despite gardaí having opened bus lanes on the northside to regular traffic.
Business lobby group Ibec yesterday criticised the drivers and suggested the Defence Forces be drafted in to drive the buses.