Talks between train drivers’ unions and management got under way this afternoon in a bid to resolve an unofficial work stoppage which has left thousands of passengers stranded.
The Labour Relations Commission (LRC) is hosting exploratory discussions between Iarnród Éireann and unions in Mallow, Co Cork, over a strike that is estimated to have cost the company around €2 million.
Drivers engaged in so-called "wildcat" strike action after a driver was taken off the payroll for refusing to carry out duties that were to faciliate training of new drivers.
Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey called on both parties to get together and resolve the dispute
Up to 20,000 passengers a day have been affected by the dispute, which hit trains on the Cork-Heuston, Cork-Tralee and Heuston-Tralee services.
On Sunday, the drivers said they would return to work on the basis that continuing their action would only serve to further inconvenience the travelling public, but on arrival drivers refused to sign a document and continued the unofficial action.
All sides involved, including the National Bus and Railworkers’ Union (NBRU) and Siptu, have welcomed the LRC's intervention which they hope will put an end to the impasse.
An Iarnród Éireann spokesman said the company welcomed the assistance of the LRC and hoped that progress could be made which will assist a swift resumption of rail services in Cork and Kerry.
Siptu branch organiser Jackie Pearson and the NBRU’s Dermot O’Leary confirmed union representatives will attend the exploratory talks in Cork.
“Hopefully the LRC will be able to find a way out of the impasse that has developed around the basis on which train drivers will return to work,” said Mr Pearson.
He added that the unions had been available for talks from last Thursday evening and were "available for however long it takes".
Meanwhile, Iarnród Éireann said significant disruption to services was continuing in Cork and Kerry today. Almost 20 trains running to and from Dublin are cancelled, along with all Cork services to Cobh, Mallow and Tralee.
A small number of services will operate on Cork and Kerry routes with bus transfers.
Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey yesterday called on the striking train drivers and Iarnród Éireann management to “get together” to resolve the dispute which has seen extensive disruption to intercity rail services.
Mr Dempsey said the dispute was outside the process and mechanisms of State industrial relations, and added: “Wildcat strikes are unacceptable”.
“It’s the kind of thing that gives public sector workers a bad name," he said.
Commenting on the disruption to trains in the Cork and southwest Mr Dempsey said it was “not good enough that passengers are not getting the service they deserve in this day and age”.
A total of 17 services on routes between Dublin and Cork and Kerry were cancelled yesterday, as were all commuter services in Cork and Kerry.
Flexible working has been at the heart of the recent dispute, which began on Thursday after a driver who was rostered to carry out shunting duties refused to drive a train being used to train new personnel. He was removed from the payroll.
The company has said that under existing agreements drivers can be required to move from operating one train to another during a shift on the basis of customer need.
It is understood that the Cork drivers have argued that under a local agreement the obligation on them to move between duties “as required” only applied in emergency circumstances.
Iarnród Éireann has claimed the withdrawal of co-operation by drivers on flexibility over recent months is aimed at exerting pressure on separate talks between unions and management on reduced working hours.
The Irish Hotels' Federation (IHF) today condemned the stoppage.
It said the drivers’ action was causing major inconvenience to travellers and threatening the tourism industry on the eve of one of the most important holiday weekends of the year.
The IHF called on the parties involved “to have the maturity to face up to their responsibilities” in the wake of what it said was “a ridiculous action”.
"The irresponsible actions of those involved are having a real damaging impact on the general public and businesses - there has to be a wake up call on the parties involved," said IHF president Matthew Ryan.