Dublin Bus management met with the joint Trade Union group today on the Labour Court Recommendation (issued July 19) to outline the company’s position to discuss the issues in dispute and to seek a way forward to avert industrial action.

Dublin Bus accepted the Labour Court Recommendation which provides for a cost of living pay increase of 2.75%* per year for a 3 year term affective from January 2016 (backdated) with the final 2.75% payable in January 2018. In effect all grades would see their pay increase by a total of 8.25% within a 16 month period. *(It should be noted that this pay increase is above the current industry norm). 

The company outlined to the Trade Unions that it does not currently have the financial resources to fund a pay increase over and above the 8.25% recommended by the Labour Court. However, we advised that we are prepared to engage with all grades of employees in exploring all areas of productivity that can achieve cost savings to fund additional increases in pay over and above the Labour Court Recommendation. Dublin Bus has engaged with the Trade Unions and participated in discussions at the Workplace Relations Commission and in the Labour Court over a 13 month period which culminated in the current Labour Court Recommendation (July 19). 

Having come through years of financial instability and change, Dublin Bus has a responsibility to continue to manage its finances in order to safeguard the economic and financial stability of the company.   Dublin Bus urges the Trade Union group and all employees not to take part in any industrial action but to engage in discussions to explore areas of productivity that can achieve savings and ultimately fund an additional increase in pay over and above the Labour Court Recommendation of 8.25%. 

Any form of industrial action will inconvenience in excess of 400,000 Dublin Bus customers each day and leave some customers with little or no other transport option.  It will have a negative impact on our city, our company and has the potential to undo the financial stability that has been achieved in recent years.  

We will keep you informed of any updates here on dublinbus.ie and on @dublinbusnews on Twitter and Facebook.