Bus Eireann And Dublin Bus Staff To Go On Strike This May

If you rely on Dublin Bus or Bus Éireann to travel, then you might want to start making other plans for the beginning of May. Dublin Bus and Bus Eireann staff have voted overwhelmingly in favour of industrial action in opposition to the Government's plans to privatise ten per cent of routes currently operated by the two companies. The National Bus And Rail Union (NBARU) confirmed today that its members will be going on strike on May 1st and will be undertaking a two-hour protest march to the Dáil and at several other locations across the country. According to the Irish Times, the union feels that the privatisation plans could result in a deterioration of their members’ terms and conditions if they had to move to private operators and said the National Transport Authority "hadn't moved a jot" to allay these fears. The impact that the action will have on services on May 1st is not yet known but unions have said that they will confirm the details a week in advance of the date. Speaking on Newstalk, a spokesperson for the NBARU said that it was not their intent to "discommode the public" but privatising the service would "cost he taxpayer more in the long run".