Displaying items by tag: Bus

The country is facing the possibility of a major industrial dispute across bus and rail services in the state-owned transport sector over a radical survival plan for Bus Éireann. Unions last night claimed that cuts to premium payments, overtime rates and other allowances proposed as part of the new management plan could lead to a 25 per cent reduction in earnings for staff. However, the firm argued that its financial position was unsustainable and that, without decisive action to tackle its cost base and inefficiencies, it would go out of business. The company has signalled that its plan could involve redundancies or layoffs, and also proposed that in future casual drivers and contractors could be used as cover for existing staff. The National Bus and Rail Union (NBRU) described the proposals as ‘stomach-churning’. It said the proposed pay rises were insulting, given the level of overall cuts involved in the package.