A STRIKE BY Luas drivers today will require tens of thousands of passengers to make alternative travel plans.

Members of the Siptu trade union are taking industrial action in a long-running dispute over pay and conditions.

Heavier than normal traffic is expected on major routes around Dublin city as extra drivers take to the roads, according to AA Roadwatch.

Normal service will resume at 5.30am tomorrow. Customers with Luas pre-paid or tax-saver tickets who are impacted by the strike will be eligible for a refund.

Docking pay

Luas operator Transdev walked out of talks with driver grade staff at the company earlier this week. Three non-driver grades accepted a revised pay agreement on Monday.

Further work stoppages are planned for 4 May, 13 May, 20 May, 26 May and 27 May.

Transdev warned drivers this week that their pay will be docked if industrial action goes ahead – a move described as “provocative and unprecedented” by Siptu.

“Our members have compromised and modified their position,” Siptu organiser Owen Reidy said yesterday.

“They have made a logical point that having rejected the previous Workplace Relations Commission proposals by 99% they require some improvement in such proposals to resolve the dispute.”

Read: Transdev says it will start docking Luas drivers’ pay during strikes

Read: Luas talks break down after company rejects 26.5% pay claim