The National Bus and Rail Union has said it will not negotiate the transfer of any members in Bus Éireann or Dublin Bus to private operators who might win open tenders for bus routes.
The union is planning a work stoppage on 1 May over the potential privatisation of routes.
The NBRU also warned that the lack of verifiable commitments on issues of concern to members, will not only ensure that the stoppage goes ahead, but may lead to further industrial unrest in the coming weeks and months.
The warning comes in a letter written late last night by NBRU General Secretary Dermot O'Leary to the Minister for Transport Paschal Donohoe.
Mr O'Leary was responding to comments made by the minister in an interview on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland on Tuesday.
He disputed Mr Donohoe's view that progress was made at talks at the Labour Relations Commission.
Mr O'Leary stated categorically that regardless of assurances around terms, conditions and pensions, the NBRU will not be negotiating the transfer of any member from Dublin Bus and/or Bus Éireann to a private operator.
He acknowledged that growth of the bus market was discussed at the LRC to see if the Government's desire for a more diverse bus provision could be met by a simultaneous growth in the bus market.
However, Mr O'Leary stated that the National Transport Authority, while supportive of the idea, stopped short of making commitments on the basis that funding was an issue for Government.
He told the minister that NBRU members fear that Bus Éireann and Dublin Bus will cease to exist after 2019, when further deregulation is due to take place.
