Cork at a standstill as a strike by CIÉ maintenance staff halts all bus services.
Pickets are erected at 6:30 am on the second day of an unofficial strike by 80 maintenance staff at the CIÉ (Córas Iompair Éireann) Capwell Garage in Cork. Bus drivers and conductors will not pass the pickets, leading to a close down of all routes. All city buses are stopped and provincial and rural services into Cork are affected. While road and rail freight are majorly curtailed, rail services run as normal.
As the day continues the pickets are extended to the provincial bus station at Parnell Place, Glanmire freight depot, Albert Quay and Kent Station.
The strike centres on the appointment of a fitter as an acting foreman. The striking maintenance workers say they told management on 17 August that a walkout was imminent if the man remained on duty.
CIÉ says the strike is unofficial and there will be no discussions until the men return to work as they have been advised to do by their Unions.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 21 August 1973. The reporter is Tom MacSweeney.
