Iarnród Éireann has warned that members of the Irish Locomotive Drivers' Association may expose themselves to tough legal penalties if they take unofficial strike action on Monday. The Irish Locomotive Drivers' Association opposes a new pay deal negotiated between Irish Rail and the other drivers' unions. It is feared that ILDA drivers may decide to absent themselves from work on Monday, disrupting mainline train services.
In a statement earlier, Iarnród Éireann said that it has not received any indication of possible unofficial strike action from Monday by the ILDA. Iarnród Éireann said that the phased implementation of the New Deal for Locomotive Drivers is due to begin from June 18. The statement followed the report that Bank Holiday Monday rail services could be disrupted if the ILDA decided not to co-operate with the new pay agreement between Iarnród Éireann and other drivers' unions. The rail company says any action by the ILDA, which is not recognised by Iarnród Éireann, will have very serious legal implications for the ILDA Executive and each individual member. However, the ILDA says that it will be going ahead with its extraordinary general meeting on Sunday to consider the new deal which it says there is little possibility of its members agreeing to.
If the ILDA members refuse to work under the new agreement it could affect all mainline services in the Northeast, Northwest, the Midlands and the Arrow Suburban line in Dublin. DART services would not be affected. This is the third consecutive year in which there has been a threat to services on the June public holiday, the busiest day of the year for rail travellers.
