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File photo Julien Behal/PA

Dublin Bus to implement cost-cutting plans as unions split on proposals

Both unions balloted members on the proposals put forward by the company to cut costs in order to reduce its €52 million deficit.

Updated 22.14

THE TWO UNIONS representing Dublin Bus workers are split in their decisions on whether to accept the company’s cost-saving measures but the company is to press ahead with cost-cutting measures.

SIPTU and the NBRU (National Rail and Bus Union) both balloted members on the proposals put forward by the company to cut costs in order to reduce its €52 million deficit.

While SIPTU members voted to reject the proposals by 51 per cent to 49 per cent, NBRU workers in their ballot accepted the measures, voting 60 per cent in favour and 40 per cent against.

However, Dublin Bus claimed this evening that this means that 55 per cent of Dublin Bus drivers overall have voted Yes to the proposals.

In a statement, it said: “Given that 55 per cent of drivers have accepted the proposals of the expert group and all other grades have accepted the Labour Court Recommendation, Dublin Bus will now commence with the full implementation of the Cost Recovery Plan for all grades without delay.”

It said an implementation date will be announced shortly.

Independent report

Last week, the company endorsed an independent report into its future which warned against strike action. New cost-saving plans were put forward and were backed by Dublin Bus.

The author of the report said he was very worried about the situation in Dublin Bus and said he couldn’t overestimate the seriousness of the situation, adding that if the measures are not approved, “we could end up in a Dublin, without a Dublin Bus”.

SIPTU Organiser, John Murphy, said today: “It is clear from today’s result that SIPTU Dublin Bus drivers are of the opinion that they cannot endure any further cuts to their earnings and have not received from the company adequate assurances about the future of the public bus system.”

He said that the proposals “do not form a firm enough basis for an agreement which will ensure that Dublin Bus continues to provide an efficient and cost effective public transport service”.

Commenting on his members’ decision to accept the proposals, NBRU General Secretary Dermot O’Leary said it “should be viewed in the context of the constant and unfair focus on our members’ terms and conditions over the last 18 months brought about by a financial crisis that is not their making”.

“The Government’s responsibility in providing a public bus service for the citizens of the state should not be abdicated at the altar of a policy driven by the desire to place profit ahead of service,” he added.

Government response

SIPTU’S Murphy said it will now be up to the company to decide whether it wishes to enter a negotiation process to resolve the dispute without further industrial action.

One NBRU source told TheJournal.ie that they believe the government may “run out of patience and implement a direct pay cut”.

“You could have a scenario whereby SIPTU go on strike but NBRU don’t, I cannot see NBRU members passing a picket but we’ll see soon enough,” they added.

In a statement tonight, Transport Minister Leo Varadkar and his junior minister Alan Kelly said that there is “no other solution” to the financial challenges facing Dublin Bus.

They said given that the proposals have been accepted by a “clear majority” of drivers and staff, SIPTU should accept the overall outcome of the vote and agree to implementation of cost-cutting measures.

They said: “Any strike will be prolonged as it is hard to see how it could be resolved given that all the industrial relations processes of the State have already been exhausted and there is no basis for any further intervention.  There will be no winners and all sides will be worse off.”

- additional reporting Hugh O’Connell

First published 6.03pm

Related: Dublin Bus drivers vote on new company plan>

Read: “The outlook for Dublin Bus is stark if this effort does not succeed” – Varadkar and Kelly>

Read: ‘We could end up in a Dublin, without a Dublin Bus’ says former union official>

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    Mute Donal Hanley
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    Apr 10th 2018, 7:19 AM

    Great to see President Clinton looking so well at 71 after all the stories about I’ll health in recent years.

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    Mute Michael Walsh
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    Apr 10th 2018, 8:19 AM

    @Donal Hanley: just heard him on the radio, he doesn’t sound that well

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    Mute Neal Ireland Hello.
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    Apr 10th 2018, 10:17 AM

    @Donal Hanley: He looks ghastly.

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    Mute Michael Lang
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    Apr 10th 2018, 7:39 AM

    Why was Denis O’Brien at the event?

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    Mute Gulliver Foyle
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    Apr 10th 2018, 7:51 AM

    @Michael Lang: well, there goes the “comment closed” train if anyone answers that!

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    Mute Michael Lang
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    Apr 10th 2018, 7:57 AM

    @Gulliver Foyle: FG supporters always go very quiet and slightly menacing if I raise Denis O’Brien in polite company.

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    Mute Daniel Donovan
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    Apr 10th 2018, 8:10 AM

    @Michael Lang: O’Brien is good friends with the Clintons.

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    Mute Michael Lang
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    Apr 10th 2018, 9:10 AM

    @Daniel Donovan: and did Denis O’Brien play a role in the Good Friday Agreement?

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    Mute John Campbell
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    Apr 10th 2018, 9:24 AM

    @Michael Lang: No! Try Haiti. The Clinton Foundation. Donations. Contracts. The lack of rebuilding in Haiti despite millions pouring in is sickening. Bill Clinton was appointed to spearhead the re development. Not a lot has been done.

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    Mute Neal Ireland Hello.
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    Apr 10th 2018, 10:18 AM

    @Michael Lang: Quiet and menacing account tje same time? That’s quote a feat.

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    Mute Sean Conway
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    Apr 10th 2018, 10:58 AM

    @John Campbell: And lowry still has his seat. what’s wrong with the voters in tipperary north?

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    Mute Conor Sweetman
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    Apr 10th 2018, 12:19 PM

    @Michael Lang: he sorted the boys out with mobile phones

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    Mute Eugene Conroy
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    Apr 10th 2018, 8:01 AM

    3 items with Billy Clinton in the journal in the one day! Is he thinking of running for Micheal D’s job

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    Mute Joseph Dempsey
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    Apr 10th 2018, 8:47 AM

    All this back slapping is vomit enducing, there maybe peace “of sorts” but the inherent despising of both communicaties of each other is palpable. The cost of maintaining this farcical truce has been obscene, either through outrageous subsidising or schemes that earn trouble makers vast sums to behave themselves. Interesting also, Clinton and Ahern taking all the credit, both of dubious and flawed character.

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    Mute Brendan
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    Apr 10th 2018, 10:34 AM

    @Joseph Dempsey: ask the people who weren’t murdered over the last 20 years if they think it was worth it.

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    Mute Ger
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    Apr 10th 2018, 12:06 PM

    @Joseph Dempsey: I was sceptical at the time and I voted against it. I grew up in the border region and wasn’t happy that men who had murdered people I knew were going to be freed from prison after serving very little time. But while that still bothers me I am happy to say that I was wrong for voting no because the positives have far outweighed the negatives and peace has lasted. I didn’t think it would.
    The right politicians were in power at the right time. No way would Trump, May, Leo, O’Neill and Foster have had the balls or the know-how to do what those guys did. The current crop would never even have gotten around a table.

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    Mute Philip Morgan
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    Apr 10th 2018, 9:24 AM

    Yea it was a fantastic agreement but something new is needed, the shower up the road care more for Language Acts, Flags and Parades than governing. The Bomb maybe out of politics up there but the two communities still have major issues with each other.

    We need the middle ground to rise again up there or a party that is not stuck in the past and can attract voters from both sides.

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    Mute Chris Kirk
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    Apr 10th 2018, 11:24 AM

    @Philip Morgan: The middle ground is knowing how better Ireland would be as one sovereign nation, recognising the diversity of cultures and working hard to make Ireland a better place for everyone. One hundred years on from partition we must count the cost of division and look to a better future. No point in celebrating anything until we recognise the mistakes made by earlier generations and make an effort to fix Ireland.

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    Mute Irish Political GIF
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    Apr 10th 2018, 7:14 AM

    Tells a terrible analogy & manages to spoil black panther at the same time. Keep on trucking bill

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    Mute SlinkyDog
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    Apr 10th 2018, 12:44 PM

    This is what my college fees are going towards? Joke…

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    Mute Joseph Dempsey
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    Apr 10th 2018, 6:36 PM

    tiresome back slapping pike of self congratulatory nonsense, however bill at least managed to stay awake. Just curious has anyone noticed, nothing has actually REALLY changed. Bertie has some neck all the same, at least clinton was gracious enough to mention both John Major and Albert Reynolds, both of whom actually started the process, mean while outside, bigoted Peter Robinson couldn’t contain his hatred “how’s the missus Peter? still got a large small on her face??

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    Mute Steven Fitzpatrick
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    Apr 10th 2018, 12:19 PM

    I don’t watch many films, can anyone expand on the why bill is like a panther who’s specific colour is blank, unlike all the other panthers I’ve seen :-/

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