Bus worker wildcats spread across Dublin north

The wildcat strike action taken by Dublin Bus drivers has spread to four new garages as the dispute enters its third day.

Submitted by Anonymous on April 28, 2009

The dispute began on Sunday after a driver at the Harristown depot was suspended when he refused to work a new schedule.

The 450 staff at the Harristown depot stopped work in solidarity with the driver before the dispute spread to the Clontarf depot.

At present just two depots are operating (based in South Dublin) with almost all of the North Dublin routes brought to a total standstill.

Dublin Bus recently developed a "Cost Effectiveness Plan" to address their €31 million projected loss for 2009, which included plans to reduce their fleet by 120 buses as well as letting hundreds of workers go.

Unions agreed to the cuts at the Labour Court earlier this month and have distanced themselves from the action.

The companys says it will only enter talks with drivers if they return to work and operate the new schedules.

Comments

MT

15 years ago

Submitted by MT on April 29, 2009

so they haven't gained

so they haven't gained anything and returned to work?
see:
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2009/0428/breaking12.htm
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2009/0429/1224245599045.html

PartyBucket

15 years ago

Submitted by PartyBucket on April 29, 2009

What about the driver whos

What about the driver whos suspension sparked the walkout?

Steven.

14 years 1 month ago

Submitted by Steven. on March 29, 2010

it looks like this news story

it looks like this news story is related to this wildcat strike. The driver accused of being the ringleader of this action was suspended from the union in May last year, and has now been fired:

THE instigator of a wildcat strike at Dublin Bus that brought the city to a standstill has been sacked.

Eugene McDonagh was suspended last May by the National Bus and Rail Union (NBRU) for what they described as "unbecoming conduct" that had put the union in a "very awkward position".

Mr McDonagh, a bus driver based in Harristown and a former member of the union executive, was suspended after he spearheaded a campaign that brought the buses on the northside of the city to a standstill.

The dispute spread to four of the city's seven depots, grounding 21 routes at one point and reducing services on 41 others.

Mr McDonagh was charged with the same offence as 13 other union members, but was the only one dismissed because he was found to have instigated the row.

A statement from the NBRU said: "Contrary to statements issued since our member's dismissal regarding the similarity of his case and that of 13 others, the company found him guilty of instigating the unofficial dispute at Harristown.

"Our remaining 13 members were found guilty of causing a disruption to services at garages across the city.

"The member (Mr McDonagh) was offered representation of senior representatives of this trade union, ie. the branch chairperson and the general president.

"The member (as is his entitlement) chose to be represented by neither of those senior and experienced reps. He was subsequently issued with seven days notice."

Mr McDonagh has denied claims made by Dublin Bus and the NBRU and has stood by his actions last year.

"I refute the company claims and the statements used to back it up," he said. "I have contended that the dispute happened because of the arrogance of local management."

http://www.herald.ie/national-news/city-news/bus-driver-is-sacked-over-wildcat-strike-2113204.html

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