Friday, May 20, 2016

Commuters in Dublin are facing severe delays again this morning, as Luas drivers hold another full-day strike.

Today’s stoppage will mark the twelfth day of industrial action, in the long-running row over pay.

Up to 90,000 customers will be directly affected by today’s action, and Luas operator Transdev claims it will lose €100,000 while the trams are out of service.

The firm’s managing director Gerry Madden said they had no desire to prolong the dispute, and that three of four driver grades have accepted a new pay offer.

“The public are getting very frustrated, understandably…It’s time we brought this dispute to a reasonable end,” he said.

“There is a €51,000-a-year offer on the table for drivers, with some productivity (measures) that we require. The company will be flexible, and reasonable.

“There was a 53% pay claim (at the outset of the dispute) and for them to get their heads round an offer of 13% – perhaps it’s something to do with their aspirations being so unrealistic in the first place…We would hope they would (now) realise €51,000 a year is a good salary for a tram driver.”

Planned upcoming stoppages:

– Thursday May 26 (3-7pm)

– Friday May 27

– Thursday June 2 (3-7pm)

– Friday June 3 (9am-1pm)

– Tuesday June 7 (9am-1pm)

– Wednesday June 8 (6-10pm)

– Thursday June 9 (6-10pm)

– Friday June 10 (6-10pm)

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