'We are being walked on', slam Longford Iarnród Éireann staff
Staff say further stoppages, in addition to four further one day protests, are possible
Staff on the picket line outside Longford Train Station say they are prepared to up the ante against the State-owned rail operator unless their demands for a 3.75 per cent pay rise are met.
"They owe us 6.5 per cent at the minute but there is no talk about that and they want to introduce productivity on top of nothing," said a spokesperson earlier today.
Irish Rail workers are seeking the near four per cent a year pay rise over three years to match recent wage increases secured by Luas and Dublin Bus workers.
Iarnród Éireann, meanwhile, says it has amassed losses of nearly €160m, meaning agreeing to those demands would effectively consign the company to "trading recklessly”.
It argued that conceding the unions’ claim would cost an extra €43m over three years and push it into insolvency.
Despite those warnings and empathy being expressed to the estimated 155,000 passengers who were expected to be impacted by today's action, rail staff contend little alternatives have been left open to them.
Asked if further protests were likely, the spokesperson said staff were very much united, vowing to return to the picket lines for "as long as it takes".
He said: "We apologise to them (passengers) of course but this is what we have to do to get a pay rise.
"It’s been ten years (since last pay rise), it’s disgraceful.
"You look at austerity, property tax, the USC (Universal Social Charge), we pay colossal tax."
Another worker, holding a placard aloft underlined those sentiments.
"The fact of the matter is it’s (Iarnród Éireann) a public service."
"If the Government of the day want a public service, they have to pay for that service," he said.