Bus Eireann services to resume in Limerick after protest ends

BUS SERVICES in Limerick are to resume with immediate effect after a two-day protest by drivers was called off.

Changes to spare driver work agreements and rosters were at the heart of an unofficial action by Limerick bus drivers, as they protested outside of the Bus Eireann depot on the Roxboro Road in the city since Sunday.

A meeting is now being sought with the Workplace Relations Commission and it is hoped it will take place this week to discuss concerns surrounding the new working agreements.

"We apologise to customers for the disruption experienced over the past two days and any inconvenience this has caused," Bus Eireann said in a statement.

The new working agreements were implemented across the country from Sunday, October 1, and included changes to shift patterns that would see drivers working a mix of early, middle and late shifts in a week.

According to those engaged in the protest, drivers 'right to application’ for spare shifts has been removed. Under the previous agreement, senior drivers could choose spare shifts to apply for, a system that was unique to Limerick.

Under the new working agreements, this right to apply has been removed and shifts are now simply assigned to drivers.

This presents great inconvenience to drivers, who may be assigned a shift at a depot that they simply cannot get to, according to Fergie, a driver who wished only to be identified by his first name. 

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“We as spare drivers cover outbased depots like Galbally or Kilkee. We get paid €30 to drive our car to go to those areas. Some of us do it. Some of us don't. That's where the right of application comes in,” he explained.

Another point of contention is the changing of rosters from five equal days of early, middle and late shifts across a seven-day period, as set out in an agreement from the Labour Relations Commission in 2017, to mixed rosters of shifts.

“Under the new proposed roster all the weeks are mixed,” Fergie explained. “Two days of late, three days of early, so on. The way it will happen is I'll finish work at half 12 on a Wednesday night. I will rest Thursday, and I'm back at work Friday at 5am. Now you'll tell me where there's a quality of life in that?”

Unions representing drivers had apparently expressed dissatisfaction with these changes at least two weeks ago, however Bus Eireann had refused to engage with them, sparking the unofficial action.

A handful of drivers protested outside the Roxboro Road depot, however their colleagues inside the gates were not willing to drive the buses past the protest, causing all services in Limerick to be suspended.

Services will see a phased resumption this Monday evening, according to Bus Eireann, with full services will resuming from Tuesday morning.

The company advises intending passengers to monitor the Service Update section of its website for updates.