DUBLIN BUS IS preparing for its drivers to go on strike this weekend which means services could be out of action on Sunday.

The company said in a statement this evening that services may not operate this Sunday with customers advised to check its website and Twitter account for updates.

“Dublin Bus has urged Trade Unions and employees not to engage in any industrial action on Sunday which will cause unnecessary inconvenience to customers and further financial losses for the company,” a statement said this evening.

The dispute centres on planned cost-reduction measures being carried out by the semi-state company which is seeking nearly €12 million in savings in the next year of which €7.7 million will come direct from payroll.

Staff at Dublin Bus are being asked to accept reductions in rest day and overtime pay following recommendations from the Labour Court but members of the National Bus and Rail Union (NBRU) and SIPTU have rejected this.

Workers argue that they cannot take any further cuts to their terms having already accepted reductions in recent years.

Meanwhile, Fianna Fáil transport spokesperson Timmy Dooley called on Transport Minister Leo Varadkar to “take a leadership role in the dispute” and invite both sides of the dispute to talks at the Labour Relations Commission.

“The August bank holiday weekend is extremely important for tourism and businesses in Dublin, not to mention the fact that the All-Ireland football quarter-finals are on in Croke Park and thousands of people are expecting to be able to use Dublin Bus to get to and from the Oxegen festival,” Dooley said.

Earlier, Minister of State for Public Transport, Alan Kelly, told RTÉ that a strike can be avoided if both sides begin negotiating. He said the time between now and Sunday “should be used wisely”.

More: Dublin Bus has no contingency if strike goes ahead

Read: Transport companies apply to hike fares in 2014