Last Efforts to Avert Rail Chaos Fail
November 23st, 2000
Wicklow commuters faced more rail chaos form Wednesday and Thursday as the planned rail strike by 138 signalmen went ahead. The prospects for stopping the strike are not encouraging despite last minutes attempts to avert the disruptions to mainline trains in Wicklow and the rest of the country. Union representatives from SIPTU and the NBRU along with Iarnrod Eireann management met in an attempt to reach a last minute agreement at the Labour Relations Commission on Tuesday and could not agree on a compromise.
The signalmen are holding out for an additional £4,189 above what Iarnrod Eireann are presently offering in their negotiations with the unions. Even dough the basic is only £13,000 per year, many of the signalmen can up their earnings to £30,000 with overtime and special payments. The rail company has offered to pay a lump sum of two and a half times the top up difference if the signal men agree to the 48 hour working week.
The planned strike will effect all mainline services in County Wicklow but will have no consequences for Dart services on the Greystones to Connolly Station route into the capital. Intending commuters are advised to check with their local stations before travelling.
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