SIPTU and the NBRU have served strike notice, to take effect at midnight on Sunday, which will hit train services in Cork, Mallow, Tralee and Limerick.

SIPTU Branch Secretary Willie Noone fears that the employment conditions of his members will be eroded over time if the practice of hiring contract workers to do their work continues.

"We have asked the company to stop those practices and allow us to enter discussions on this - but unfortunately for whatever reason they are saying they will not go back on their decision," he said

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Rail workers to stage 24-hour strike

Irish Times:12/10/2007

Rail workers in the south west are to stage a 24-hour strike on Monday next in protest at changes to work practices at Iarnród Eireann.

The move by line inspection and maintenance staff at the company is likely to cause major disruption to train services in Cork, Mallow, Tralee and Limerick.

Siptu, which represents the workers, served Iarnród Eireann with notice of industrial action which it said would take effect from midnight on Sunday until midnight Monday in the south west region.

The union said: "Rail workers are being forced to take industrial action because management is continuing to forge ahead with plans which undermine existing working conditions without agreement".

SIPTU branch organiser Willie Noone said: "Management is progressively introducing a five-day week spread over seven days for certain categories of workers and utilising contract workers to carry out essential work which should be done by our members".

"As no resolution could be found, after exhaustive negotiations our members had no option but to serve notice of industrial action on September 7th", he said.

Mr Noone said the staff regretted any inconvenience their action might cause the travelling public and remain available for talks over the week-end in an effort to resolve the issue in dispute.

Commuters face chaos with threat of rail strike

Irish Examiner: 13 October 2007
By Stephen Rogers

THOUSANDS of rail commuters could face travel chaos on Monday as Irish Rail staff threaten to grind all services into and throughout Munster to a halt in a 24-hour strike.

If the action by up to 500 workers goes ahead as proposed by SIPTU and the National Bus and Rail Union, it would mean Irish Rail cannot guarantee the hourly Cork-Dublin services, along with services from Ennis, Limerick and Tralee to Dublin, Tralee to Cork and all Cork commuter services.

The dispute surrounds claims by the rail unions over the terms and conditions of permanent-way staff who look after line inspection and maintenance.

The workers are claiming that, contrary to agreements put in place with the company in 2000, they are not being given access to premium night-time and weekend shifts because those are being given to cheaper labour.

“Rail workers are being forced to take industrial action because management is continuing to forge ahead with plans which undermine existing working conditions without agreement,” said SIPTU Branch Organiser Willie Noone.

“Management is progressively introducing a five-day week spread over seven days for certain categories of workers and utilising contract workers to carry out essential work which should be done by our members,” he said.

However, the company claims it is following all the correct procedures, that the staff are currently employed on a Monday to Friday basis and have no right to claim priority for the other shifts.

The unions balloted their members for strike more than a month ago and set midnight Sunday as the date for the action.

Both sides have endured marathon talks in the Labour Relations Commission.

Tomorrow, the unions will meet with their members to decide whether they will forgo the strike and take the matter to the Labour Court in a week’s time.

The company is hopeful that the unions will opt to defer the disruptive action to see if third parties can find a resolution.