Rail Unions Say Further Strike Action Remains On The Cards

Rail unions say strike action in the run up to Christmas remains on the cards.

No trains are running today in the first of five planned strike days, resulting in travel chaos for commuters in Clare and across the country.

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All trains are cancelled today as drivers take to the picket lines.

Rail staff are calling for a 3.75% pay rise each year for the coming three years and claim Irish Rail have effectively pulled out of the talks process.

Killaloe Councillor Tony O’Brien, who is an executive member of the NBRU says rail workers don’t want to be standing on the picket line, but feel they have been left with no other option.

Irish Rail says the pay rises are unaffordable but Councillor O’Brien says workers have born the brunt of cuts over the past number of years despite the company remaining profitable.

Today is the first of five nationwide strikes and unions say the other 4 planned days will likely go ahead.

The Transport Minister has appealed to both sides to come back to the talks table but Greg Ennis from SIPTU says it’s time Minister Shane Ross stepped in.

More than 150-thousand passengers nationally are caught up in the row today.

These people, who use the train service from Ennis Train Statio,n have been giving Clare FM their views on the issue:

All trains are cancelled today as drivers take to the picket lines.

Rail staff are calling for a 3.75% pay rise each year for the coming three years and claim Irish Rail have effectively pulled out of the talks process.

Killaloe Councillor Tony O’Brien, who is an executive member of the NBRU says rail workers don’t want to be standing on the picket line, but feel they have been left with no other option.

Irish Rail says the pay rises are unaffordable but Councillor O’Brien says workers have born the brunt of cuts over the past number of years despite the company remaining profitable.

Today is the first of five nationwide strikes and unions say the other 4 planned days will likely go ahead.

The Transport Minister has appealed to both sides to come back to the talks table but Greg Ennis from SIPTU says it’s time Minister Shane Ross stepped in.

More than 150-thousand passengers nationally are caught up in the row today.