Unions at Bus Éireann suspended strike action on 13 April following a Labour Court recommendation of a revised cost cutting plan to restore the viability of the Republic of Ireland’s nationwide state bus company.
The strike took all services other than schoolbuses off the road from 24 March, leaving some communities without any public transport. Other operators filled some of the gaps created by the loss of its Expressway long distance routes.
Staff are voting on whether to accept the deal, which provides compensation for at least 120 drivers to take voluntary redundancy. Centralisation of back office functions will result in a further 48 redundancies among clerical staff and 22 of the 116 executive team will go, with a 10% salary cut for those earning over €60,000 (£50,800) a year. The number of inspectors will fall from 118 to 93. The company has also agreed to propose no further restructuring or rationalising of the business before 2019.
The threat of more disruption remains. Should Bus Éireann staff reject the new plan, schoolbus drivers and staff at Dublin Bus and Irish Rail have voted to support them with their own industrial action.
