Employers' group ISME has described as "malicious and mistaken" the decision by transport unions to hold a day of protest tomorrow which will severe disrupt commuters.
Mr Mark Fielding, ISME ceo, said "this dispute is symptomatic of the industrial relations malaise that pervades the public sector, manipulated unscrupulously by the unions, the consequences of which are that taxpayers are continuously being held to ransom by the threat of withdrawal of necessary services".
Tomorrow SIPTU and the NBRU unions will hold a four-hour work stoppage between 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., to take part in protest marches in the main urban centres.
The protest by workers in Bus Éireann, Dublin Bus and Iarnród Éireann is against plans by the Minister for Transport Mr Brennan, to breakup CIÉ. Mainline rail, DART and Bus Eireann services will also be affected.
The NBRU-initiative is expected to go ahead despite the union saying it was available for talks this weekend.
Anger at an alleged delay in starting talks between the Department of Transport and unions on the future of CIÉ prompted the NBRU to call for a work stoppage.
Mr Kevin Foley of the Labour Relations Commission, has been appointed to chair this talks.
Mr Fielding said that by denying may employees the right to public transport, "the unions create uncertainty and mayhem".