The ATGWU's Irish Locomotive Drivers' Association branch has given Iarnrod Eireann until August 20th to resume processing disciplinary hearings against eight members. If the company fails to do so, the ILDA branch committee will issue dates for renewed industrial action.
The decision was taken at a committee meeting yesterday afternoon. Earlier in the day the ATGWU Irish secretary, Mr Ben Kearney, was in touch with the company. He says he was given assurances that ILDA members facing disciplinary charges "will be approached by the end of the week and told what stage in the process they are at".
He subsequently met the branch committee and later said he was hopeful that industrial action could be avoided. The committee passed a motion accepting a recent Labour Court recommendation on how disciplinary procedures should operate within Iarnrod Eireann.
However, there are differences of interpretation between the committee and the company over how the court's recommendation should be implemented. These revolve around appeals procedures and the right of the ILDA branch secretary, Mr Brendan Ogle, to represent drivers beyond the Athlone depot, where he works.
Only two of the eight drivers facing disciplinary charges are based in Athlone.
The Labour Court says ATGWU drivers should have access to the company's appeals tribunal. But Mr Ogle said last night that his members would not attend the tribunals, as presently constituted, because the workers are represented on them by SIPTU and National Bus and Railworkers' Union members.
His members would be demanding ATGWU representation on the tribunal.