Rail strike could be on the way for next Bank Holiday weekend following dispute

A dispute over pay for rail workers could lead to commuter chaos for those living in Kildare after talks at the Labour Relations Commission broke down late last night.

Negotiators from the National Bus and Railworkers Union and SIPTU spoke to Irish Rail last night in an attempt to get a 3.75 per cent increase in their members' pay packets, but they said that their demands were met by 'contempt' by the company.

A pay increase of 1.5 per cent was offered if the unions agreed to outsource jobs. close rail lines, reduce contracted working hours and redeploy workers. Members of those unions will be balloted in the coming weeks to see if a strike is necessary.

The strike action could take place around the October Bank Holiday weekend if matters are not resolved, but NBRU’s Dermot O’Leary said that it was about time rail workers were given a pay rise.

“After a decade long pay hiatus, the expectation of a long overdue pay rise for Irish Rail staff has not materialised," he said.

“ Our members have looked at colleagues in the Public Transport Sector enjoying pay increases of up to 3.75%, while Irish Rail is thumbing its nose at its own Staff by making a pitiful offer, at a time when passenger numbers and revenue at Irish Rail are at a historical high is contemptuous,” he said.