Union slams ‘orchestrated’ breakdown of WRC talks

October 20th: Unite, which represents craft workers in Iarnród Éireann, today announced that nearly three-quarters of of members have voted for industrial action, up to and including strike action.  The news follows last night’s breakdown of talks at the WRC, which Regional Officer Willie Quigley said had been “orchestrated off the pitch”.

“After a pay freeze lasting almost ten years and abortive attempts to resolve issues at the WRC, workers at Iarnród Éireann have reached the end of their patience.

“Unions hoped the latest welcome intervention of WRC in an attempt to finalise a pay proposal would bring a resolution to the crisis, but it appears that those representing Iarnród Éireann were not fully authorised to negotiate.  In effect, the breakdown of talks was orchestrated off the pitch.

“We now have a mandate from our members for industrial action up to and including strike action, and accordingly will be proceeding with arrangements for a series of 24-hour stoppages as agreed by unions this afternoon.  Unions will keep the situation under review and consider escalation and longer durations of actions on an ongoing basis”, Willie Quigley said.