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BUS ÉIREANN STAFF could strike on Sunday to mark their opposition to cuts due to be imposed by the company.
Yesterday, Bus Éireann warned that its controversial cost-cutting plan needed to be implemented as soon as possible or it is likely it will end up breaking the law.
Proposed changes
However, unions at the company have rejected the proposed changes to pay and conditions. Today, the National Bus and Rail Union secretary general Michael Faherty said on RTÉ radio show Morning Ireland that the union has had a mandate for industrial action since January, and it will ballot this week on whether to reject the proposals, which were set out in a Labour Court recommendation.
While he did not want to pre-empt the outcome, he said that on the basis of what they are hearing from members, it is likely they will be rejected. “If that is the case it will be up to the company to tell us what they are going to do,” he said.
If the company does go ahead and implement the changes, Faherty said the NBRU members “will not be operating under those conditions” which would mean an all-out strike from Sunday.
Faherty said that there are elements of the Labour Court recommendation that “are unacceptable” and that “somebody someday will have to sit down” and discuss changes to it.
The members are willing to undertake industrial action as they feel “so strong about this”, said Faherty.
Andrew McLindon of Bus Éireann said that since June 2012 the company has been engaged in talks with trade unions about the difficult financial situation the company is in.
It needs the savings from payroll terms and conditions to protect its viability and to protect 2500 jobs. It lost €6 million last year.
The company said it may be required to call an Extraordinary General Meeting to deal with the situation if it isn’t allowed to cut pay.
Changes
The Labour Court recommended a range of measures to save around €5 million from the payroll. Among the recommended changes are:
The intention of the company is to implement the recommendations, but if they are introduced this Sunday, it is likely that trade unions could undertake industrial action.
If there is industrial action, that is “entirely a matter for unions”, said McLindon, who described it as “completely counterproductive”. He also said that legally, unions have to give 7 days notice of industrial action, so “any industrial action on Sunday would be unofficial”.
He said that if they do intend to undertake industrial action, unions need to outline what that will be for the sake of the Bus Éireann customers, so that they can be informed by the company.
Eamon Gilmore
Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore spoke about the issue during Leaders’ Questions in the Dáil today, saying that the viability of Bus Éireann is at risk if it can’t make the cuts.
He said that the company remains open to engaging with the unions, and he very much hopes the management and unions use the period between now and Sunday to engage in further dialogue which will ensure the necessary savings are introduced.
He added that this government “is committed” to the public transport service and that is why it wants to keep Bus Éireann in existence.
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27 euro to travel from mullingar to dublin return during the week is a joke , especially when it costs less to drive up and back , the private bus companies can cover bus eireanns routes for a lot less as well , no wonder nobody wants to use them , theyre the last resort when travelling anywhere
If you look further you would find that these private bus companies pay no where near the same wage and bonuses as Bus Eireann hence why they’re cheaper.
It must be great knowing that you can go on strike while working for a loss making company, and be safe in the knowledge that your job will still be there, when the strike is over. Clowns!
So are private companies underpaid or are bus eireann overpaid in your opinion? Genuine question.
The private companies probably have less “management” rolls for people and perhaps productivity might be better and not lower wage rates for the drivers! Imagine if that were true!!!
Bus eireann made a 500,000 profit last year!
Tbh them “cuts” seem pretty good and would have major impact, but having said that I think that reducing prices and proper ad campaigns and reduced journey times would increase passenger numbers and would have a bigger impact than just cutting from the company
Reduced journey times generally means ‘less stops’ which in turn limits the number of passengers that can get the bus.
It’s certainly a tricky situation.
That’s a joke a 36 hour week,and I’d said their annual leave is pretty good to.i can see how they wana keep their double time on a Sunday,but the rest is they don’t have my sympathy the unions have these company’s ruined
A 39 hour week not a big deal
Double pay on a sunday should be scrapped, it’s no different to any other day of the week.
Can anyone clarify what their standard annual leave entitlements are?
36 hours sounds like a part time job , an double time for Sunday, I’d say a sunday shift cost what most private drivers are paid for a week, no wonder public transport here is a joke,
Are all the bus drivers red thumbing us?
Is today part of their annual leave or something?
You clearly dont do shift work, up at 4am some days, finished at 1am other days, working split shifts, and working most weekends! Its bullshit to say working on a sunday is the same as working any other day
If you choose a job that involves shift work then don’t complain about shift work. Get a 9-5 if you think it’s better. By your logic I should get overtime for having to get up early of a monday morning and face the fear.
Those working in retail or hospitality don’t get any extra benefits for working late nights or weekends.
20 days annual leave, same as most people in the private sector, 1 extra day leave after 7 years service. And with the hours we are expected to work I end up using several days leave each year for things like family get togethers, which happen on weekends!! People working 9 to 5 dont even have to think about that!
Thanks for the clarity on AL Dave, if you do only get 20 days then a 3 day cut is a bit severe.
It also sounds like you hate your job a bit.
I dont hate my job at all, I hate fools thinking we get paid for doing feck all and that its a handy number! Its the long service annual leave days that they want back, so only having 5 years service done it wont effect me
What’s the difference Dave? If you still get two days off a week? People in other companies don’t get double pay for Sundays! If I had a choice between possible redundancy and those new terms I’d be biting their hand off, they’re fairly lenient, I thought there was going to be a slash in pay or something. 39 hours a week, by the way, is what the rest of the full time workforce do.
I hope you’re not driving a bus at the moment Dave!!
I agree with your comment re 39hours a week, the vast majority of cie staff work at least 39 hours, its a very very small number of clerical staff that get away with working 36 hours. But my 2 days off a week are rarely together, and rarely at the weekend. Its all about having a work \ life balance, which can be a challange in my line of work. Extra pay for unsocial hours is well deserved in all lines of work
People agreed to work unsocial/shift work because they were offered premium payments. Take away the premia and you remove the incentive to work those hours.
Legal minimum annual leave is 20 days so people on 20 days can’t lose annual leave
Most people who chose to work a job involving shift work did so under certain pay and conditions, to now remove some of those conditions and validate the argument you are putting forward makes no sense.
These blood sucking union vampires will destroy this company and everyones job.
so the drivers have to take the hit while the top paid managers and inspectors keep their highly inflated salaries.hardly fair now
If the private sector comes in than people can forget about rural bus stops and a around the clock service.
This is where local businesses need to step in and provide a local transport service. It may result in having to get 2 buses to get to a city but the reality is no company can return a profit running a route from Termonfeckin to Dublin.
I don’t know the inner workings of bus eireann but surely there are internal savings to be made. Best people to carry these things out are workers not bureaucrats.
The intetnal savings are those recommended in the cost-cutting plan. The next step is to privatise the company and return it to profitability
The only around the clock services in my area are private operators..
Around the clock service? It’s the private companies only who offer that!
Neilo yes I live in Dublin and use public transport daily.
The issue I have is that BE cannot serve small towns if there is no demand (they’ve tried and are now up shit creek).
I suggest an alternative whereby smaller local operators provide a shuttle service to larger towns where a BE service can then be boarded. A ticket sharing scheme can be implemented also similar to the leap card we use for bus and luas.
This will reduce journey times for BE, reduce operational costs and ensure rural Ireland still has a bus service.
This will also stimulate local business in rural Ireland.
It sounds simple because it is. The BE operational model has failed.
I am a driver for Dublin bus and to those that say it is not a hard job you are wrong, it is one of the most stressful jobs you can work in, shift work, dealing with the public which in general are not very pleasant. So I say go ahead privatise it all and then use will just have something else to give out about..
Well said paul, I was spat at yesterday and had to drive away while rocks were thrown at my windscreen, All cos I stopped a group of teenages that didnt want to pay their fares. Easy job my arse!
I don’t for a moment think it’s an easy job-any one that has to deal with the public will agree. However, my experience with the staff in Bus Eireann is far worse (percentage wise) than Dublin Bus. When I used them regularly it was commonplace to get a rude, sneering and often dangerous driver. They can take their strike and stick it where the sun don’t shine as far as I’m concerned.
Do drivers from private bus companies not face the same difficult issues?
These cuts are not the worse!!! I have to say I have no sympathy here!!! The price of travel with Bus Eireann is a joke and usually cheaper to drive!! I’d rather support frontline workers who are opposing real cuts not middle of the road one likes these!!!
Another backward state monopoly…needs a dose of privatisation badly..
Too right lad! How’s the privatisation of bin collection in Dublin going again?
Yeah because the privitisation of transport services worked wonders in the UK.
Good point…I’ll give ya that. But the privatised UK nationwide bus model works well too..
Privatisation is not the answer to all public service ills. A Private bus company will want to make 5 – 10% profit every year, so even if you contract them to have to have to service some not profitable routes, those routes will have to be subsidised with higher than necessary fares on more popular routes. And have you seen the hair raising cost of commuting in London? You’d want a second job just to pay that.
When your life in a mess take a National Express
The private bin collection services in Dublin after a shaky start are proving to be great value for money. Greyhound lost the plot. A new company Citybin charge €99 pa that’s less than €2 pw. Next year €180 pa that’s less than €4 pw. Competition in an open market for non essential services is the only way to go.
theres a reason these people drive buses because there too lazy to do any job that involves movement….and now there complainin about this?? sack them all i say and see will they complain then
No need to go down that road buddy. The drivers are being brainwashed by the unions. Unions are the real evil here.
Ahh I wouldn’t say that now. A bus driver is not an easy job and the responsibility involved I wouldn’t wish upon anyone.
In saying thay their wages are ridiculous when compared with private companies and if there are to be any jobs left then cutbacks must happen.
Clowns
u really need to get out more mickey with backward statements like that sure if thats the case u could argue anyone in politics in ireland is a lazy git cos they sit all day in places like the dail and its bar and rarely move
A strike could be disastrous for students (one of Bus Eireann’s biggest customers) with it being exam season.
Victory to the bus drivers!
The spirit of William Martin Murphy has no place in Ireland.
What victory? If they reject the proposals then the company is unsustainable. All staff will lose their jobs.
BS Alan, this is just part of a plan to weaken the union, lower their terms and conditions and prepare the service to be sold off to vulture capitalists, and if you think your fares will be cheaper you are living in a dream world, the privitisation of transport in the UK led to masive fair increase, buses won’t go to unprofitable routes anymore, they’ll just cherry pick the busy ones.
Why should a large company service unprofitable routes?
Those routes should be managed by smaller localised companies providing shuttle services to larger bus stations where a connecting bus to a larger town or city cqn be boarded.
Duh Alan Burke/Margaret Thatcher! Because it is a service, the goal should be the maximum service, not the maximum profit. Imagine post wasn’t delivered to unprofitable areas. And anyway its about time workers in this country started to fight back, no more paying for the crimes of bankers.
I think what your referring to is called a taxi
Dave Bus Eireann has tried to operate the routes but has been unsuccesful due to high operational costs and relatively low demand.
There is a business opportunity here for local and startup operators to capitalise on.
Alan, BE isn’t supposed to turn a profit, it’s a public service, it’s not supposed to make a 6m loss either to be fair. In relation to local bus services, depending on the value, they are subject to procurement rules and management so cannot be gifted without competition afaik – you’re also arguing for a potential rise in cost of living for some rural people.
Good reply, the company is non profit making! That’s how your nan or grandad is brought to the hospitals, post offices and so forward in rural areas or should we scrap all those services. Private company’s mean shareholders and large profits. I’m all for frontline workers protecting there pay and conditions but don’t ye think we have over inflated Morgages also. Lets stick together, why all divide and conquer between us workers we’re all paye workers.
Scarr the counter argument is a rise in the cost of living for those on profitable routes to susidise the loss-making (higher ticket prices).
I think what we have clarified is that BE’s operational model is not sustainable in it’s current form.
Alan – true, I’ve made a similar point re: subsidising on profitable routes, but maybe this comes back to how much should a bus driver be paid? 20k? 30k? 40k? More? And it’s easy for us to sit here and say cut this. Pay them that. We’re not bus drivers. I wouldn’t like the job. But at 6m loss in a year, something has to change – maybe privatising a section of the routes ie Munster.
I think we need to establish what the basic salary of a bus driver is, what allowances and expesnses they currently claim and what annual leave entitlements do they currently have.
Then we compare these to privaye companies and public services in other european countries whilsr factoring in our higher fuel costs etc.
Only then can we make a judgment as to whether they are overpaid.
If anyone can clarify the above I’d be most grateful.
Yeah a bus driver should get paid more than 40k a year. Why always attacking the people who actually do the work? How much do managers get? How much do senior management get? How much does the head of the cmpany get? No talk of cutting that, every time they want to cut someones pay, like Richy Bouchers pay, its all hand wringing and well no it would be a breach of contract and we need his most esteemed skill, but when it comes to ordinary workers their contracts don’t matter, their situations don’t matter and their lives don’t matter.
Also isn’t it funny how the senior management of these companies are always in favour of privatization themselves, they have an incentive to make the service crap.
Is the service running a loss because it got some of its funding cut, in order to facilitate the bank bailouts?
Alan, you have detailed the formula behind the ‘race to the bottom’. It is absurd to expect all to work for less on the basis that some are willing (or indeed need to) work for little
Yes private bus companies who have suspect safety measures, poorly paid untrained drivers, poorly serviced vehicles, look at all the recent fatalities involving private bus operators??? I know who I would rather travel with…
The worst bus disaster in Ireland – in which five young school girls died in Navan about 7 years ago – was a Bus Eireann bus. I travel with them every single day and I can tell you I’m sick to my teeth of being late because the bus broke down/ its a rickety old double decker that can’t drive at a reasonable speed/ not using the bus lanes etc. some of their buses are fancy and new but if there was a private company running my route, I’d switch in a heartbeat.
You are all commenting here for cuts no 2x pay for Sundays I agree totally but stop it for all SS guards the lot if its good enough for a bus driver to loose 2x time it’s good enough for a Garda , nurse and so on
SS guards!?
Punctuation
Sorry all go government employees typo civil servants
No you still don’t have the hang of it lad.
I would say a guard’s job is slightly riskier than a bus driver’s, no? Putting them in the same bracket for pay and terms is a little gratuitous.
Why ? Bus driver is no different to any one else working on a Sunday if you going to cut one cut the lot across all the little perks are what got this mess the way it is you can’t just pick one section and cut there Sunday rate and leave the rest what about a counsel employee that get triple time for a Sunday , when a Garda or a nurse , or any other person signs for there job they know they have to do weekend shifts if they don’t want to do the job don’t take it
You make for valid argument Flippermac, however lack of appropriate punctuation hinders ability to comprehend same.
Alan , blaaaaa blaaaaaa blaaaaaa
There is no space before a comma.
A Burke the name says it all
It would seem spelling and context are also beyond you.
A comma would have been an appropriate addition to your last comment, I’ll let you figure out where it goes.
Sorry there A Burke but I’m driving a bus here I’m not good at muitlytasking
*facepalm*
Simple problem with a simple solution. Close the whole company down before Sunday and let the lot of them go, let the private sector come in and do it at a better price with none of the union nonsense.
If you’ve book a ticket (cork to dublin) and they go on strike are you refunded?
If you buy a ticket and don’t travel you get a refund. I know this as i recently got one.
Thanks Begrudgy
how Can They take industrial action if the have not balloted on it? They have to give ten days notice under the law following a ballot. They Only voted to reject the deal. Thats different.
Let them strike, let them go bust, let it be sold to a private operator – short term pain, long term gain. We would simply end up having a national bus service that works ON TIME and turns a profit!!
What’s new? Any time there are proposed changes in Bus Eireann a potential strike is the first line of defence. In these economic times? How tiring!
Listening to the debate on Matt Cooper this evening 2 very interesting questions were asked, neither of which were answered satisfactorily by Mr Mclindon. The first was relating to 70 million in hand by CIE group and the second was what pay cuts or changes are the executives going to take. It turns out the conditions being imposed by the company do not apply to upper management or executives, very hard then to sell to the employees. In relation to the 70 million its existence was confirmed but apparently the labour court recommendations do not include its use to offset the company losses.
it’s always the same the rich get richer and poor get poorer ffs
Well Alan you seem to know how everything works why don’t you tell us how we fix it?
Why is the state competing with private companies to provide non essential services?
Of all the weekends I need you use the service…
Why does Bus Eireann insist on using those huge vehicles when only a handfull of people ever travel and where a 12 seater minibus would make far more ecnonmic sense on non viable routes,but as everything in state companys if it dont suit the unions it just wont happen.
have your say