Bus Eireann drivers in Cork are afraid for their livelihoods after a raft of cuts were announced by the company this week.
Workers say the proposed measures, which includes job losses, would affect their take home pay by up to 30%, and have slammed Bus Eireann’s proposal of a 3% wage hike as media spin.
John Moloney, a Cork bus driver and president of the National Bus and Rail Union, said industrial action is certain should the proposals go ahead.
Bus Éireann bus on St Patrick’s Bridge, Cork.
He also said that any action could halt the country’s transport system completely should Irish Rail and Dublin Bus workers decide to strike in solidarity.
“Bus Eireann’s proposals are absolutely appalling and they have raised the eyebrows of union members in Irish Rail and Dublin Bus as well. It’s unprecedented that anyone would propose so many severe cuts,” said Mr Moloney.
“Those in Irish Rail and Dublin Bus feel that if the Bus Eireann workers weaken here, they’re next under the chopping block. So they’re watching this intently. They’re saying that they’re not prepared to stand by and let the members of their own trade union be treated this way. We could very well see a serious national transport situation develop here.”
Cork bus drivers gathered to discuss the situation in the Imperial Hotel on Wednesday.
“The room was filled with drivers that are hugely concerned. There were young drivers and middle aged drivers, and they are all hugely concerned about their families and about their ability to pay their mortgages,” said the NBRU president.
“These people are not paid excessively at all. The cuts the company is putting forward range from 23% to almost 30%. They’re real figures. It’s an absolute joke for a company to say it needs to implement cuts like that, and then to turn around and offer a 3% pay rise. It’s insulting.”
Bus Eireann has announced cuts to premium payments, allowances and redundancies as part of a cost-cutting plan to save itself from insolvency. It wants to reduce overtime rates, cut sick pay benefits, “reduce or eliminate” temporary staff and “streamline” management and support staff.
The company may also be forced to close its Expressway service after it was revealed the service makes a loss of roughly €7m every year.
Staff have been offered a pay rise of up to 3% a year for the next four years if they accept the cuts and do not take industrial action.
“This is an absolute and utter attack on Bus Eireann employees and their terms and conditions. The measures don’t reflect at all the level of changes that are needed. It’s absolutely disgraceful,” said Mr Moloney.
“This is a significant crisis and there’s definitely going to be problems ahead, no doubt about it.”
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