AN all-out strike at Bus Eireann is set to be called off tomorrow - however services may not resume until Friday.

Sources at the Labour Court have confirmed that it will issue a recommendation to resolve the dispute by lunchtime tomorrow.

Unions have told the court they will suspend industrial action when the recommendation is issued to ballot their members on the proposal that may end a row over payroll cuts.

In a statement this evening Bus Eireann said: "Bus Éireann awaits the recommendation of the Labour Court in relation to the ongoing dispute, which is expected to issue at lunchtime tomorrow.

"The main issue remained to be the composite hourly rate for our driver grade.

"The company respectfully requested from the unions that staff might return to work ahead of the recommendation, but this was rejected.

"We must now await the outcome of the recommendation."

Later a Bus Éireann spokeswoman said it will endeavour to have a normal resumption of services as soon as possible, if the strike is called off tomorrow.

"However a complete and full schedule of services may not be operational until Friday lunchtime, in that case," she said.

General Secretary of the NBRU Dermot O'Leary said:

"Having completed the Labour Court process, and in keeping with our commitment to the Court, Pickets will remain in place until such time as a Recommendation is received, expected to be at lunchtime Thursday."

He also criticised management at the company:

"The treatment meted out to our members by their employer, supported by those in Government and the NTA over the last number of months, is something that will live long in the memory of our members, staff at Bus Éireann, to their eternal credit, have shown tremendous dignity throughout this disgraceful attack on their family life".

In a message to members this evening, Patrick McCusker of the Transport Salaried Staffs Association said the court had said it will issue its recommendation by lunch time tomorrow. "Once received instructions from all unions will be issued to lift pickets," he said.

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