The proposed cutbacks to Bus Eireann work practices in Athlone, due to come into effect this Monday, have been suspended pending the outcome of talks with the Labour Relations Commission.
It was announced yesterday (Thursday ) that a planned strike by Bus Eireann workers had been called off to allow for further talks on the future of bus services, including local and regional bus services within and from Athlone.
It is understood that the Athlone town bus service, which links the town centre with areas including Garrycastle, Willow Park, and Monksland, is among the services under threat, though this has not been confirmed by Bus Eireann.
In addition, it was thought that 11 of the 21 bus drivers currently employed in Athlone were likely to be made redundant under the company’s proposals, while regional routes between Athlone and Waterford, Cork, Limerick, Westport, Sligo, Navan, and Cavan would also be curtailed.
Bus Eireann had intended to implement a programme of cutbacks starting from July 5, with changes to drivers’ terms and conditions due to be brought in from this Monday, June 29.
However, following threats of strike action, management and unions agreed to attend talks at the Labour Relations Commission this Tuesday in an effort to resolve the dispute.
SIPTU sector organiser Andrew McCarthy said that the proposed cuts had “huge implications “, and would greatly affect the service offered, particularly in Athlone.
“The talks will be protracted and difficult. The changes to services have huge implications for communities throughout the country. We may have to go back to the Government to try to increase the public service subvention, in order to ensure services are maintained,” he said.
The proposed changes were announced by Bus Eireann earlier this year, in an attempt to address a 10 per cent reduction in passenger numbers and losses of €500,000 per week. They included plans to make 320 of its 2,700 employees redundant and to abolish or reduce the frequency of a number of its services.
A statement from Bus Eireann yesterday said that Bus Eireann is facing a “very serious and challenging financial position that needs to be addressed urgently”, and that it is projecting losses of up to €30m in 2009 unless its cost recovery plan is implemented.
“Bus Éireann has today accepted the invitation of the Labour Relations Commission to a meeting next week to facilitate negotiations on the cost recovery plan. Given that these negotiations on the cost recovery plan will now take place within the Labour Relations Commission, Bus Éireann is deferring implementation of its cost recovery plan pending the outcome of these discussions,” read the statement.
