Strike action by transport unions has been averted for now after unions decided to accept an invitation to meet the Minister for Transport Mr Seamus Brennan, in a bid to resolve the present crisis.
The National Bus and Rail Union (NBRU), which represents more than 3,000 workers in CIÉ, and SIPTU, discussed a co-ordinated campaign of action at a meeting at the Irish Congress of Trade Unions headquarters today.
A statement issued on behalf of the unions after today's meeting said they were entering the talks "reluctantly, given the past history of similar invitations".
However, the unions have stressed they still reserve the right to pursue industrial action.
The statement also said the unions decided to accept the invitation because of "the seriousness of the situation and the importance of the public transport issues at stake for both our members and the wider public we feel it is important to explore every avenue for a peaceful resolution of our differences."
The Minister for Transport, Mr Brennan, said last night he had written to CIÉ unions seeking to re-establish talks over his plans to break up the company. He said he was "strongly of the view" that the planned reforms could go ahead while protecting the terms and conditions of workers in CIÉ.
The unions stated they would be reconvening after their meeting with the Minster at which stage the decisions whether or not to take industrial action will be decided.
A date for the meeting has not yet been set.
Meanwhile the Green Party spokesman on transport, Mr Eamon Ryan, criticised the Minister's plans for the transport sector.
"The Minister seems to be driven by a free-market ideology rather than by considerations for proper public transport planning," Mr Ryan said.
