27/04/2016

Transdev Urged To Re-Engage With Luas Drivers

Transdev, the management company for the Luas service, has been urged to re-engage in negotiations with driver representatives to "reach a just solution to the dispute".

SIPTU Sector Organiser, Willie Noone, said: "It is very disappointing that the management of Transdev has not utilised the positive momentum resulting from the acceptance of its proposals on pay and conditions by SIPTU members in the non-driving grades at Luas to seek to find a resolution to its dispute with the tram drivers.

"Earlier, Luas driver representatives presented their agreed position to management. They stated that they were open to discuss productivity issues but were not in a position to bring back proposals to their colleagues which envisaged new entrants to the grade being placed on lower rates than currently applicable."

He added: "The drivers pay claim has always been higher than the non driving grades of Luas workers. The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) accepted this position in its proposals to resolve the dispute, which included a higher percentage raise for the driver grade. The drivers pay claim has been substantially adjusted downwards in an attempt to find a resolution to this dispute. However, it appears that the company will not concede that these workers will not accept inferior pay proposals than emerged from the WRC.

"The opportunity to resolve the ongoing dispute at Luas should not be wasted and SIPTU is calling on the management of Transdev to re-engage at the earliest opportunity with the drivers' representatives."

(MH/CD)

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