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Unions accuse Bus Éireann of 'seeking to collapse talks' around averting strike

A strike action scheduled for today was cancelled after a breakthrough at the WRC last Wednesday.

File Photo Bus Eireann strike to start on February 20th. End. Leah Farrell / Rollingnews.ie Leah Farrell / Rollingnews.ie / Rollingnews.ie

Updated at 5.10pm

UNIONS REPRESENTING BUS Éireann workers have hit out at company management for releasing a document to workers warning of increased losses at the company while talks are ongoing at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC).

Both the Siptu and NBRU trade unions have accused Bus Éireann management of attempting to undermine the talks after they released the document which points to large company losses being forecast for last year.

The document – seen by TheJournal.ie - states that projected losses for 2016 at the company have now increased.

The company states that it is looking at an estimated operating loss of €9.4 million for last year. It states that losses for last month are already in excess of €1.5 million.

Talks are ongoing in the WRC this evening as both sides attempt to end the industrial impasse at the company in a dispute over workers’ pay and conditions as the company attempts to shore up its losses on its regional bus routes.

Dermot O’Leary – general secretary of the NBRU – said that the company was “deliberately provoking its own staff” by releasing the document while talks were ongoing.

“It’s absolutely appalling that management at Bus Éireann are playing Russian Roulette with its own staff and the public transport system,” he said.

O’Leary also questioned whether the company was “determined to force its own workforce onto the streets”.

Meanwhile, Siptu sector organiser Willie Noone said that the company was “looking for the breakdown of these talks”.

Siptu representatives remain insistent that the issues we have raised must be addressed prior to engaging with the document.

Embattled

The embattled semi-state company has been told it needs to make massive savings in order to maintain viability.

An all-out strike had initially been planned for today, however a breakthrough last Wednesday at the WRC saw both that action, and a strike ballot planned for Dublin Bus, called off.

In a statement at the time the National Bus and Rail Union, which represents workers at the company, said:

“The WRC have today requested that all parties, Unions and Management at Bus Éireann postpone all actions scheduled for 20 February to facilitate discussions on all issues on Friday 17, Monday 20 and Tuesday 21 February.”

Whist we remain of the view that a multi-stakeholder involvement will ultimately be required to resolve this dispute, in deference to the WRC, we are prepared to engage in this process to establish if we can achieve some progress towards an overarching and sustainable resolution.

With reporting from Cormac Fitzgerald

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Read: Kenny’s future as Taoiseach in the balance as parliamentary party showdown looms

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105 Comments
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    Mute Stephen Duggan
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    May 13th 2015, 6:34 AM

    I knew a fella that lost both feet to frostbite, he drank two hot whiskeys, and not only did his feet grow back, he got a part in riverdance. True story.

    376
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    Mute Ronan Sexton
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    May 13th 2015, 6:50 AM

    Pics, or it never happened.

    38
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    Mute Celticspirit321
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    May 13th 2015, 6:54 AM

    Even better, here’s the video https://youtu.be/jjxTTjJtXDA

    15
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    Mute John Fahey
    Favourite John Fahey
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    May 13th 2015, 6:53 AM

    Irish whiskey, among many other Irish companies are missing out on major new markets, namely China.

    This is a MASSIVE new market, and their marketing is no where. You see Scottish whiskey advertisements everywhere, and as a result, Johnny Walker is being sold for crazy money over there, albeit mixed with bottles of green tea!

    Not only is Scottish whiskey advertised, but Scotland and its “brand” are shown, including images of golf (another booming industry!) etc. You see similar examples of France when cosmetics or wine is advertised.

    You do see Irish whiskey in shops, Jameson is available for approx €10 a bottle (made in Ireland too!) But it’s not treated as high end, where serious money can be made, by any means.

    Being a small nation, I feel our companies need a co-ordinated effort to help use brand “Ireland” to market themselves in China. Our government should be involved, as this will not only help boost exports, but also help to increase tourism etc. Reducing the visa paperwork will only go so far.

    An aggressive approach is very much needed. It would be a major boost for Ireland to be known in China as “being the best in the world” for something like whiskey, as it would help put us on their map, which we aren’t yet on.

    135
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    Mute Freddie Rincon
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    May 13th 2015, 3:56 PM

    Same in Latin America. I imagine they simply could’nt supply the demand? 20 brands of scotch the odd place will have Jameson.

    5
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    Mute Rory J Leonard
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    May 13th 2015, 7:42 AM

    Mr John Teeling is to be commended for his Trojan efforts in injecting new life into the Irish Whiskey sector over the past twenty years or so.

    This former University lecturer in Business studies, is a true Entrepreneur, who has practiced what he preached!

    77
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    Mute Chris
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    May 13th 2015, 12:34 PM

    Love the stuff too, great product.

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    Mute Mark Gerard Lochlain
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    May 13th 2015, 6:27 AM

    Yea purely for medicinal purposes!!!! *cough*!! Ya can bate a hot toddy sitting at a winters fire to kill the cold!!

    70
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    Mute Emily Elephant
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    May 13th 2015, 7:20 AM

    “We need the government to be innovative …”

    And that’s where I stopped reading.

    54
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    Mute Alan Corlett
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    May 13th 2015, 8:37 AM

    Whisky in brown envelopes, now there’s an idea :)

    16
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    Mute Conor O'Neill
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    May 13th 2015, 6:35 AM

    Hate whiskey. Taste like petrol and makes people crazy

    27
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    Mute richard fennessy
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    May 13th 2015, 7:31 AM

    Ooh your loss Conor

    46
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    Mute Hipster Enda
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    May 13th 2015, 9:12 AM

    You’ve been drinking the wrong whiskey

    28
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    Mute Joseph Siddall
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    May 13th 2015, 9:39 AM

    If it states “95 Octane” on the label you might want to think about changing your supplier.

    30
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    Mute josecafe
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    May 13th 2015, 7:16 AM

    Yeah the good ole whiskey will fix this country like the good ole days

    22
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    Mute Sloop John G
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    May 13th 2015, 7:40 AM

    Smells like teen spirits !!!

    18
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    Mute Patrick Brompton
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    May 13th 2015, 10:02 AM

    An old Irish whiskey I would like to taste is “Tabby-toes” described by Molly Keane in a memoir called ‘The Athenry Country’ in her 1933 book called ‘Red Letter Days’. She writes’At an old Georgian house we dismounted from our horses, leading them around its wide-spread wings to the quiet stir of the stable yard, and presently sitting down to the best of all teas, eggs and bacon and potato cakes, preceded by a whiskey of peculiar excellence; an old liqueur brand extinct now, known as “Tabby-toes.” I cannot easily forget it. And through its mellowing warmth I can see again the strong and graceful lines of all the Chippendale and Sheraton furniture with which the dining room was crowded…’.

    12
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    Mute Colm Odinson
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    May 13th 2015, 3:17 PM

    A big problem is just how “scabby” Irish whiskey looks compared to the Scottish variety.

    Scottish whiskey is all about single malts, produced in small quantities, and sold at a luxury price. It gives off an air of luxury, sophistication, even a bit of mystery. They trade off the perceived romance of the Scottish highlands.

    Irish Whiskey is dominated by a few big brands, who churn out fairly homogenised stuff. It just utterly lacks the taste, variety and image of Scottish whiskey.

    I’m sure the Irish variety can change, but it would require a lot of investment into small businesses and a fair amount of imagination into how it’s marketed.

    4
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    Mute Big Yellow Crane
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    May 13th 2015, 10:59 PM

    Was just thinking that and that the brands which have disappeared up here; Coleraine, Dunvilles, Comber, didn’t exactly fire the imagination. But I’ve just read that Dunvilles is making a comeback with an Ards based distillery, Echlinville, releasing a batch under that name in 2016 so they must think there’s value in it.

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    Mute whereisspace
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    May 13th 2015, 11:10 AM

    Our great Irish-American family the Kennedy’s had a lot to do with the rise of the Scottish branded whiskies. People associate whiskey with the term “Scotch”, and a scotch in america is seen as an item of sophistication (notions! :-)) . This association of course travels internationally though the various american media outlets, films and tv shows that are sold throughout the world.

    Marketing has a lot to do with it, we’re a bit behind but I’m sure the Irish companies are doing their bit to make a positive change.

    4
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    Mute Ian Aston
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    May 13th 2015, 12:25 PM

    Where can I buy those old Whiskey bottlles/jars from the picture?

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    Mute Ian Aston
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    May 13th 2015, 12:28 PM

    Ian, why has whiskey got a capital W and why can’t you spell bottles you dope?

    10
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