Trade union leaders are to meet early next week to plan a campaign of industrial action at Dublin Bus over a long-running pay row.

Yesterday, drivers attached to Siptu voted overwhelmingly in favour of action, which could cause chaos for passengers in the coming weeks.

Dublin Bus has issued a statement saying it’s “extremely disappointed” and called on its staff not to engage in any action that could affect customers or the company.

Siptu claimed that Dublin Bus had started to make a profit again from November 2014 with passenger numbers and revenue increasing.

Siptu’s Divisional Organiser for Transport, Energy, Aviation and Construction, Owen Reidy, said: “We are prepared to engage with the employer on issues of productivity in addition to a general wage round agreement.

“We would urge Dublin Bus to return to the bargaining table immediately to reach a new agreement to avoid the very real prospect of 24- and 48-hour stoppages and perhaps an indefinite all out strike in Dublin Bus.”