ILDA train drivers have accused SIPTU of being an obstacle to the resolution of the rail dispute which is now in its eighth week and has caused widespread disruption.
Mr Brendan Ogle, executive secretary of the ILDA train drivers' group, claimed SIPTU was keeping the dispute going behind the scenes. "SIPTU are a major obstacle. They are the obstacle," Mr Ogle said. SIPTU members were now carrying out ILDA du ties but ILDA would continue for "as long as it takes" and he believed the strike would escalate.
Mr Ogle's remarks followed a joint SIPTU/NBRU statement yesterday calling for ILDA train drivers to return to work to see the benefits of the new deal which had been accepted in a democratic process.
Mr Noel Dowling, a SIPTU national industrial secretary, dismissed Mr Ogle's remarks about SIPTU. Two weeks ago, he said, "he was making the same accusations about the NBRU, so what's new in that?"
The two unions said the dispute was about recognition of ILDA which wanted to renegotiate this deal. "We will certainly not sit back and allow this splinter group, who refused to accept the outcome of the democratic ballot, to interfere with this deal."
This war of words followed a number of protests yesterday by ILDA members as the first train for almost seven weeks reached Westport, Co Mayo. The service resumed when three drivers returned to work - one a member of ILDA, one a SIPTU driver who had not been working, and a third driver who was back from annual leave.
There was an ILDA protest at a level crossing at Garryredmond, near Claremorris, Co Mayo. ILDA drivers also protested near Skerries, Co Dublin, and Dunleer, Co Louth, on the Belfast to Dublin line. The 7.40 a.m. train from Belfast was 20 minutes late as the driver drove "at caution" because of the protests.
In Cork, 20,000 commuters were affected by an ILDA picket on the Capwell Bus Eireann depot and inter-city bus services were disrupted for three hours.
An Iarnrod Eireann spokesman condemned the protests as "illegal and reckless" and "deplored the direct involvement of at least two members of the national executive of the ILDA".
Mr Ogle said it was astonishing neither the Tanaiste nor the Minister for Public Enterprise had yet sought the advice of the Attorney General, but the way forward was mediation, he stressed.
However, Iarnrod Eireann's human resources manager, Mr John Keenan, said there was "no basis" for assistance by Mr Tom Darby, former leader of the NBRU, who had offered to mediate. Mr Darby said he had been led to understand by the company he was one of several people who had offered to mediate.
Mr Keenan said "any positive initiative from whatever quarter at this sensitive time" would be considered because they wanted to "resolve" rather than "win" the dispute. The company had adopted a "patient approach" to the situation but the time was coming when they would have to resolve the issue definitively.
After a four-hour meeting with the Killarney Rail Action group, Mr Ogle said the company was making much out of the return to work of an ILDA driver last week and the return to work of a SIPTU train driver yesterday.
"ILDA are not fighting a PR battle, this is an industrial dispute," he said. ILDA members were "train drivers, simple people, ordinary people, decent people never involved in a dispute of this kind before".
He refused to condemn yesterday's protest actions by ILDA members. "Enough people are condemning our members," he said. He was not condoning the actions but neither was he condemning actions which basically arose out of a sense of frustration.