An estimated 20,000 commuters were left stranded in Cork city yesterday morning when members of the Irish Locomotive Drivers Association mounted a picket outside the main Bus Eireann depot in the city which led to the disruption of most city and some country bus services.
Approximately 60 bus drivers - members of SIPTU and the NBRU - refused to pass the picket at the Capwell Garage at about 5.30 a.m. by four members of ILDA. The picket remained until 9 a.m. when bus services around the city began to return to normal.
According to a Bus Eireann sales executive, Mr Denis Burke, about two-thirds of Bus Eireann's services were affected. Only long-distance country services where drivers were bringing in buses ran according to schedule.
"This unofficial picket took us unawares and we want to let the public know that it has nothing to do with Bus Eireann. Some drivers decided not to pass the picket and we regret the inconvenience it caused." He said the protest hit services at a peak time.
According to ILDA sources, yesterday's protest was born out of frustration at the failure of the Government and the Minister for Public Enterprise, Ms O'Rourke, to intervene in the dispute between the association and Iarnrod Eireann which has entered its eighth week.
ILDA member Mr Tom Loughnane said he had no doubt the dispute would be resolved by now if it had affected Dublin services. "Dublin Bus went on strike on their own problems last week for three hours - they were al lowed to go back on their old rosters and old conditions.
"We can't - they won't allow us to do it - just till this thing is sorted out. We'd go back to work right now, this minute, if they would allow us on our old rosters, that's all we're asking until this thing is sorted out, one way or the other. It's not too much to ask for now at this stage, is it?"
Cork North Central Fine Gael TD Mr Bernard Allen said he too believed the dispute would have been resolved by now if it was affecting Dublin services. "I think if this was affecting the public in Dublin as seriously as it's affecting people in the provinces, talks would have taken place long before now."
There were fears last night that ILDA members might resume their unofficial picket of the Eireann Capwell Depot later this week, although a spokesman for the association could not be contacted to confirm if the group had further protests planned.
