Anger among bus drivers 'reaching volcanic proportions'

Update 4.40pm: The Government has again insisted the Transport Minister cannot get involved in the Bus Eireann dispute. .

Anger among bus drivers 'reaching volcanic proportions'

Update 6.45pm: The National Bus & Rail Union has today warned that only a “limited window of opportunity” remains to resolve the ongoing dispute.

“Following on from yesterday’s protest march at Dáil Éireann, on day six of this unnecessary dispute, the palpable anger among Bus Éireann workers is making it extremely difficult for this Trade Union to hold the line with regards to preventing contagion across the entire public transport sector," said NBRU general secretary Dermot O'Leary.

“The Minister, the Government, CIÉ and Bus Éireann management have a limited window of opportunity in which to resolve this dispute before the control we have been able to exercise will inevitably evaporate.

“The NBRU has been warning of the potential for this strike to spill over well in advance of its commencement.

“It is becoming increasingly clear that the continuous build-up of frustration and pressure among our members is reaching volcanic proportions and may, despite our urgings to the contrary, erupt into the mother of all public transport disputes.”

Update 4.40pm: The Government has again insisted the Transport Minister cannot get involved in the Bus Eireann dispute.

It is the 7th day of strike action, with no resolution in sight.

Earlier Sinn Féin dubbed Shane Ross "the invisible minister" for his lack of action on the issue.

But his cabinet colleague Richard Bruton came to his defence.

Earlier: Commuters across the country are facing travel chaos again this morning.

Workers at Bus Éireann are holding their seventh day of strike action. The dispute with management centres on the implementation of cost-cutting measures at the company without union approval.

Workers from across the sector held a protest yesterday to coincide with the Minister for Transport's appearance at the Oireachtas Committee.

Dermot O'Leary from the NBRU said Minister Shane Ross has a responsibility to ensure the public transport system is running on a daily basis.

“At this stage people are getting very, very frustrated. One would hope that the Oireachtas Committee would put a focal point in relation to Shane Ross and his requirement to create an environment where people can engage.

“The unions have been saying from from the start that we are willing to engage with an efficiency-based agenda.”

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