Management and unions at Bus Eireann have reached an agreement to put an end to strike action at Bus Eireann.
The deal, if accepted by SIPTU and NBRU members, will see €5 million worth of cuts and will run from June until January 2015.
Management will make a 20% contribution to the cuts.
The National Bus and Rail Union says however it cannot guarantee its members will accept the new deal that is on the table. They are not ruling out possible further strike action after all parties to talks at the Labour Relations Commission (LRC) reached an agreement just before a deadline this morning.
Under a proposed deal on pay cuts and changes to conditions, which was reached after 'intensive and positive talks' that went through the night, management dropped a key recommendation from the Labour Court. Unions representing workers at the transport company will now put the proposal to members.
Management says the agreement will help protect the future of the company, the 2,500 people it employs and the 300 routes it operates around the country. The proposed cost-saving measures agreed today will deliver at least the same level of savings as originally set out in the Labour Court agreement, which the Labour Court said were critical to ensuring the company's viability.
Public Transport Minister Alan Kelly is hopeful implementation of the agreement will go ahead.
NBRU General-Secretary Michael Faherty cannot guarantee that his members will back the proposals.
Services are operating as normal today. Andrew McAlinden is spokesperson for Bus Éireann.
Willie Noone from SIPTU gave more details about the deal, which will now be put to their members.
Bus Éireann Statement in full
"Following intensive and positive talks, Bus Éireann has today reached agreement with the trade unions on a range of proposed cost saving measures that will help protect the future of the company, the jobs of our 2,500 employees and the 300 routes we operate around the country.
These proposed measures will now be put to the trade unions’ members.
If ratified, the agreement will start on the 1st of June 2013 and is for 19 months until the first of 1stJanuary 2015.
Under the proposed agreement Bus Éireann will no longer be implementing the Labour Court Recommendation, so the company does not anticipate any further industrial action at this time.
For the sake of our customers, Bus Éireann welcomes the fact that all of our services will operate as normal on Thursday May 16th 2013 and going forward.
We would once again apologise to customers for any inconvenience caused as a result of the recent industrial action.
The proposed cost saving measures agreed today will deliver at least the same level of savings as originally set out in the Labour Court agreement, which the Labour Court said were critical to ensuring the company's viability.
Bus Éireann now looks forward to the membership of the trade unions ratifying these proposals.
Bus Éireann would like to recognise the significant contribution and input from the trade unions during this talks process.
Bus Éireann would like to sincerely thank the Labour Relations Commission for facilitating this agreement."
IBEC want back-up plan
IBEC are calling for the reform of Irish Labour Law in light of the strike action taken by workers at Bus Éireann.
The business group - who open their Employment Law Conference in Dublin today - say the laws should be changed in order to minimise the impact of such actions on public services.
They're calling for the notice period of industrial action to be increased from seven to 14 days in order to give both sides involved in a dispute more time to find a resolution.
Brendan McGinty of IBEC says more protections are needed to avoid the widespread disruption caused by strikes:
