Bad News For Irish Rail Customers As Industrial Action Threatened

Irish Rail users could be set for some disruption during the summer months, following a threat of industrial action by the National Bus and Railworkers Union. 

This action comes after the company warned its workers that it could not afford to pay wage increases.

According to the Irish Independent, the Union issued the threat after Irish Rail said it would be "trading recklessly" if it went along with worker claims for salary hikes of at least 3.75% each year.

Irish Rail explained that its financial position is ''worse than Bus Éireann's'', with a prediction that the company will end up just €2 million short of insolvency this year.

However, General Secretary of the NBRU Dermot O'Leary argued that Irish Rail's passenger numbers are back at Celtic Tiger levels and that there have been significant increases in revenue, with €25 million payroll cuts and a 19% cut in staffing.

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