Bus deal protects workers and users
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The public support shown for striking Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann drivers over the May Bank holiday provided the basis for the agreement that was delivered after marathon talks at the Labour Relations Commission on Thursday (14th May).
The support illustrated the growing awareness among the public of the threat privatisation presents to the provision of high quality services and the common good.
At the centre of the dispute are plans by the National Transport Authority (NTA) to put out to tender 10% of Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann routes. The intent was to proceed with this tendering process without agreement with the workers’ unions. The manner in which the NTA had sought to conduct the tendering process would have undermined conditions of employment throughout the sector as well and spark a race to the bottom in service provision.
Despite pressure the Fine Gael dominated Government will not change its policy of tendering out 10% of bus routes, an approach that the unions cannot legally seek to change through industrial action.
Prior to embarking on strike action, SIPTU outlined a six point agenda, which would protect workers terms of employment and safeguard against a further privatisation of services when contracts for routes are due for renewal in 2019. This six point agenda is central to the agreement between unions, management and the Department of Transport.
However, both workers and the public will have to remain vigilant if further privatisation, and the race to the bottom which this would begin, is to be prevented.
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