Train-drivers have been offered pay increases of almost £3,000 a year and a drastic reduction in working hours. The proposals, aimed at ending 21/2 years of protracted negotiations, emerged from 16 hours of intensive negotiations at the Labour Relations Commission yesterday.
The chief executive of the LRC, Mr Kieran Mulvey, issued the proposals on condition that negotiators for Iarnrod Eireann and the train drivers unions, SIPTU and the National Bus and Rail Union, agreed to recommend them for acceptance. Last night the Minister for Public Enterprise, Ms O'Rourke, who played a key role in breaking the log-jam between the two sides, welcomed the outcome.
"I believe it is a reasonable deal for the drivers and the company," she said. She also indicated that acceptance by the company's 300 mainline drivers would clear the way for renewed investment in the railway system.
The human resource manager of Iarnrod Eireann, Mr John Keenan, said the new working conditions would "break the link between low pay and long hours" that had characterised the job in the past. In return the company would obtain operating efficiencies that would allow it to extend its services.
In the past, train drivers earned basic pay of £14,238 a year. By working up to 60 hours a week, including Sundays, they could increase this to £26,700.
Under the new arrangements they will be paid a guaranteed week ranging from 43 to 48 hours, for which they will be paid a salary of between £26,500 and £29,500. The majority of drivers will be on £29,500, according to Mr Keenan.
They will have to accept regular Sunday working but will be guaranteed two days off a week. At present almost all drivers have a six-day basic week and are liable to Sunday rostering.
The principal union negotiators, Mr Liam Tobin of the NBRU and Mr Tony Tobin of SIPTU, made a joint appeal last night for drivers to accept the proposals. They appealed to drivers who had joined the breakaway Irish Locomotive Drivers Association, which disrupted train services on July 9th and July 11th, to return to their respective unions and vote for the proposals. Balloting will take place over the next four weeks.
Traditionally mainline drivers have set pay headlines for other grades. If they accept the terms talks will begin with the company's 55 DART drivers.
They are awaiting a Labour Court recommendation on proposals to extend the DART service to Greystones and Malahide. The recommendation had been expected today but was delayed by the negotiations for mainline drivers. It is now expected next week.
If it is accepted it will increase the likelihood for a successful ballot of mainline drivers. If it is rejected it could lead to disruption of DART services.