Dublin Bus services will not run again until Saturday morning as a result of the latest 48-hour industrial action in a dispute over pay, which got underway at midnight.
Bus services stopped at 9pm ahead of the stoppage to allow the fleet to return to their depots.
Minister for Transport Shane Ross has said the strike is a matter for management and unions to sort out.
Speaking to RTÉ News, he said: "It's not a matter for the Minister for Transport and we are not going to produce the Government's - the Taxpayer's - chequebook to sort this problem".
"This problem will be sorted between the unions and the management and we're not going to be a soft touch for either management or unions."
Govt will not produce the cheque book to end the Dublin Bus dispute, says Shane Ross. More: https://t.co/hYNdBhL7Y0 pic.twitter.com/mPe8EdrblB
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) September 14, 2016
Dublin Bus Chief Executive Ray Coyne has written to staff urging them to attend the Workplace Relations Commission in a bid to resolve the pay row.
In his letter, Mr Coyne tells staff that this second 48-hour stoppage will cause huge disruption to services and customers until midnight on Friday - as well as undermining the credibility of the company as the best bus operator in Dublin.
He warns that each day of strike action is costing the company over €600,000 - while the series of stoppages proposed so far will cost the company in excess of €5 million.
He describes this cost as unnecessary and avoidable, adding that it will seriously undermine the company's ability to fund even the 8.25% recommended by the Labour Court.
He cites the Labour Court recommendation of an 8.25% pay rise - with the first 2.75% backdated to the 1 January 2016, the next phase payable from January 2017, with the final 2.75% payable in January 2018.
Mr Coyne noted that this award is well above the industry norm of approximately 2% in the public and private sector, describing it as fair and reasonable in acknowledging the contribution of all employees to the company's recent financial recovery.
He said that the company is available to commence discussions immediately with each staff grade to discuss further productivity linked increases - as provided for in the Labour Court recommendation.
Dublin Bus workers have sought an increase of 15% over three years - without any productivity concessions.
In addition, they are seeking a 6% award from 2008 which was unpaid due to the economic crisis, while Dublin Bus drivers are also seeking parity with Luas drivers.
The General Secretary of the National Bus and Rail Union has rejected the points made by Mr Coyne.
In a letter, Dermot O'Leary said: "The setting of preconditions on any potential pay discussions on issues such as productivity, particularly given the fact that a significant amount has already been delivered, is not conducive to resolving the dispute."
Unions criticise Department of Transport
SIPTU has again accused the Department of Transport of inaction ahead of tomorrow's strike.
Transport division organiser Owen Reidy said that while disputes are always resolved through negotiation, the people Dublin Bus employees need to negotiate with appear to have gone into hiding.
He said that in this situation, it was completely fair to squarely place the responsibility for the inconvenience to the public on those who were unwilling to even attempt to seek a negotiated end to the dispute.
Dublin Bus notes that in recent years, it has come through what it calls an extremely tough financial period due to the recession and has only just reached a stable financial footing.
It says that the 15% claim would cost €50 million over a three year period, which would seriously undermine the company's financial stability and would be unsustainable.
Mr Coyne has said that it is in everyone's interest to resolve the dispute as quickly as possible, adding that he believes the WRC is the correct forum for further engagement - as provided for in the Labour Court recommendation.
He concluded his note to staff by urging all grades to engage in that process and avoid any further disruption of services.
400,000 passengers a day have already been disrupted by a two day strike last week, and a similar stoppage is planned on 23 and 24 September.
Unions representatives will meet tomorrow to assess the situation, and to decide whether to escalate their industrial action.
Sources have not ruled out a decision to mount an all-out indefinite strike.
