SIPTU asks Govt to block rail closures
SIPTU has urged Transport Minister Seamus Brennan to block CIE's plans to close down unprofitable rail freight services.
CIE's board of directors will meet tomorrow to finalise a decision on the closure, which could lead to 600 job losses. The company is reportedly planning to close rail links between Limerick, Ballybrophy and Rosslare due to under use.
Speaking after a meeting of SIPTU's national rail council today, branch secretary Tony Tobin accused CIE of using underhand tactics.
"The board are doing this, using it as a lever to get more funding from the Government, which is a rather childish way to do it instead of going to the minister, advising him that they have a funding problem, advising the minister that they need fares increase, which they do and which we would support," he said.
