The planned strike for this Sunday and Monday by workers at Iarnród Éireann has been averted.
National Bus and Rail Union and Siptu representatives engaged in talks with Iarnród Éireann management at the Labour Relations Commission for the past number of days, which finally came to a conclusion in the early hours of this morning.
Management has agreed to withdraw the pay cuts imposed last month of between 1.7 per cent and 6 per cent for three weeks, which will allow for a ballot by members of the unions on the LRC proposals.
The terms of the deal include regular forums between trade unions, the National Transport Authority and the Department of Transport and the deal should last for 25 months. On termination, a discussion on productivity and pay growth will be held.
The unions are happy with the agreement and say the proposals are comprehensive and address all their concerns. Iarnród Éireann also said that the proposals will help protect the future viability of the company.
There were already two days strike last month which cost the company around €1.5 million and disrupted thousands of passengers. There were due to be three more strikes on the 7, 8 and 21 September. All September strikes have now been called-off which means that fans travelling to the All-Ireland hurling and football finals will now be able to use the train.
Minister for Transport Paschal Donohoe also welcomed the news. He had indicated earlier this week that he was not planning on cutting government funding to Iarnród Éireann.
