Further industrial action in the country’s public transport services could be on the cards in the weeks ahead as part of a row over pensions.

The National Bus and Rail Union (NBRU), which represents staff across the CIÉ group, in Iarnród Éireann, Bus Éireann and Dublin Bus, on Friday warned management that any unilateral changes to pension arrangements would lead to strikes.

Trade unions representing staff at the CIÉ companies have been invited to a meeting with management today in relation to pension issues.

In letters to the three companies today, the general secretary of the NBRU, Dermot O’Leary, said: “The purpose of this correspondence is to advise you that any attempt to vary or alter the conditions of service of our members in relation to their pension entitlements without their agreement will be met with resistance including industrial action and/or strike.”

There has been speculation within the company that consideration is being given to closing pension schemes to new entrants.

Minimum-funding proposal

Unions have also expressed concern that pay rises awarded up to 2023 may not be reckonable for pension purposes as part of a minimum-funding proposal put forward by the company to the Pensions Authority. The CIÉ superannuation scheme covers managers, supervisors and clerical staff across the three companies as well as the group holding company. Most other staff, including drivers and other operational personnel, are in a separate, “wages-grade” pension scheme which has different terms and conditions.

Reduced working week

Separately today the Labour Court is set to hold a hearing on claims by trade unions representing train drivers at Iarnród Éireann for payment for past productivity and a reduced working week.

A dispute over these issues led to a three-hour work stoppage by drivers which brought all train services to a halt last month.

A second three-hour strike by train drivers was only narrowly averted on Friday week last when unions agreed to refer the issues to the Labour Court.

The unions had contended that in lengthy talks at the Workplace Relations Commission, management had sought to focus on future productivity measures only.

Unions have argued that the 43-hour working week for drivers at Iarnród Éireann is longer than that worked by their counterparts in Northern Ireland or in Britain.

The unions have also maintained that over recent years drivers agreed a series of productivity measures such as taking on additional safety measures and the expansion of one- person operations without additional payment.

Services at Bus Éireann and Dublin Bus were hit by strikes earlier this year as part of a row over the potential privatisation of up 10 per cent of routes currently operated by the State-owned transport firms.