Rail disruption feared as ILDA meets over strike action

Members of the Irish Locomotive Drivers' Association are due to meet later today to consider strike action in support of eight…

Members of the Irish Locomotive Drivers' Association are due to meet later today to consider strike action in support of eight members appealing disciplinary action by Iarnród Éireann.

The ILDA will seek clarification on the Labour Court’s ruling that the ILDA should not represent members appealing these disciplinary sanctions.

It is believed that the ILDA has already decided on dates for a series of strikes but may not announce them today.

The Labour Court issued an opinion last week stating that Iarnród Éireann's disciplinary procedures were fair and said ILDA drivers could be represented at appeal tribunals by the existing trade union nominees, Mr Liam Tobin, of the National Bus and Railworkers' Union, and Mr Tony Tobin, of SIPTU.

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The ILDA's branch secretary, Mr Brendan Ogle, said the Labour Court opinion was "desperately flawed".

The company has said it will seek damages from the ATGWU and the union’s British-based parent Transport and General Workers' Union, if passenger services are disrupted by what it claims would be unofficial action.