Trade union Unite has announced that its members in Bus Éireann have voted unanimously in favour of strike action.

The news follows the company’s threatened unilateral implementation of a drastic cuts package on February 20.

Unite Regional Officer Willie Quigley said that the action "reflects the anger" felt by members.

"Today’s ballot result reflects the anger felt by Unite members and other Bus Éireann workers at the company’s behaviour during the past number of months, and in particular the past fortnight.

"Their refusal to engage in an arranged hearing at the Labour Court in December has been compounded by a deliberate strategy of selective media leaks and threats designed to intimidate the workforce and confuse the public."

Mr Quigley said that the Grant Thornton report has still not been provided to unions and that the union learnt through the media of another 'internal' report whose recommendations were apparently rejected.

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"At the same time, leaks to local media are reporting the threatened closure of some garages – causing great concern to workers and local communities.

"Our members’ growing anger at management’s behaviour has been exacerbated by the Minister’s persistent refusal to take a proactive role in this crisis and convene a meeting of all stakeholders."

The unions will be meeting in Unite offices at 2pm on Thursday February 2 to agree on a course of action in response to the forced implementation of cuts.

"Neither management nor the Minister should be in any doubt that the unions will be resolute in defending the interests of our members and the travelling public," Mr Quigley said.

The National Bus and Rail Union (NBRU) have called on Minister For Transport Shane Ross to explain the role of the Department of Transport in the circumstances which have led to the Bus Éireann crisis ahead of the Fianna Fail motion.

General Secretary Dermot O'Leary said: "Calling this an industrial relations dispute is a gross untruth and runs in direct contradiction to the role the Department of Transport has played in relation to instructing Bus Éireann Management to produce a Business Plan in order to address Expressway issues on behalf of the Shareholder.

"A Report titled 'Bus Éireann Existence Plan' seen by the NBRU confirms that a number of options were presented on request from the Department, to avoid large scale industrial action across the public transport system throughout 2015 and early 2016."

Mr O'Leary called on Minister Ross "to assume democratic responsibility and explain the exact sequence of events stretching right back to the commencement of the dialogue between the Shareholder and Bus Éireann".

"Bus Eireann workers are quite rightly asking if their future and the vital services they provide across the towns and villages of Ireland, was sacrificed at the altar of electoral politics."

Online Editors