SIPTU has accused the management of Ianród Éireann of attempting to "ride roughshod" over the conditions of employment of train drivers by announcing a ten-minute frequency DART service without driver agreement.
The National Bus and Rail Union had already queried whether the service could go ahead in early 2016 given that negotiations had not yet taken place.
Today, SIPTU Organiser Paul Cullen echoed the NBRU, saying it has written to Ianród Éireann management seeking clarification of media statements regarding an increase in frequency.
He described the company's statement this week about the proposed new service, which was welcomed by Minister for Transport Tourism and Sport Paschal Donohoe, as "extremely unfortunate".
He noted that there had been no discussion, and certainly no agreement, on the proposals during recent talks at the Workplace Relations Commission.
Unions are still balloting on whether to accept the Labour Court recommendation to engage in further talks.
Ianród Éireann said the ten-minute DART service was completely separate from productivity issues, as the company is training new drivers so that the overall service can be delivered within existing arrangements.
