Talks underway over Dublin Bus dispute
Negotiations are underway in Dublin aimed at ending the pay dispute at Dublin Bus, with management and union officials from SIPTU, the NBRU and UNITE taking part in exploratory talks at the Labour Court.
The row centres on the implementation of an €11.7m cost-cutting plan.
Dublin Bus services returned to normal this morning following travel chaos for tens of thousands of commuters over the last three days.
Following the intervention of the Labour Court yesterday evening the three unions agreed to suspend the strike action. Management also agreed to defer the implementation of its cost reduction plan to allow talks to take place.
It is understood the unions want clarification on the duration of the measures and on what contribution management are making.
Yesterday, the Transport Minister Leo Varadkar said the process cannot be allowed to drag out, but that he is confident all sides are keen to reach a deal.
Willie Noone from SIPTU said while the talks will be difficult he is hopeful a resolution can be reached.
"I don't believe the Labour Court would have intervened, unless they thought that there was a basis of getting the parties to agree," Mr Noone said.
"The fact that we've been called in, that itself is a good sign.
"There has to be some movement in those reports order to make them acceptable - and there has to be some certainty put on them as well so our people know what they're buying into."
