Iarnrod Eireann drivers are to be offered more than £8.1 million in compensation for lost earnings, and a pensions increase of more than 64 per cent.
The offer is based on a Labour Court recommendation which is expected to be put to a ballot of the 295 drivers concerned next month. The average compensation will be £27,500.
The ballot has been delayed because of a High Court case taken by the Irish Locomotive Drivers Association for union recognition. The case concluded yesterday and a judgement is expected within two weeks.
Train drivers who currently work over 60 hours a week are being offered rosters of between 43 and 48 hours. Their basic pay of £14,400 a year will be increased to £26,500 to compensate for loss of overtime.
Lump sums based on between two and 2 1/2 years overtime earnings are being offered as part of the package. About 35 drivers will receive payments of £28,900 each, 30 will receive £28,300 each, 40 will receive £27,700 and 30 drivers £26,400 each.
The Labour Court has recommended that the pension plan, based on basic pay of £14,400 be increased to take account of the first 39 hours worked under the new regime. This means that it will be based on £23,000 a year in future.
Yesterday the human resources director of Iarnrod Eireann, Mr John Keenan, said the new package "will lift drivers out of the low-pay regime with reliance on overtime to earn a decent wage." He also predicted that it would create a more stable industrial relations environment.