Strike - Refunds

[Mark Gleeson]

Irish Rail are basically saying this is the agreement from the Labour court accept it.

There is no money, I would expect if this continues we could see examinership.

Franks should not be on holiday, no question no matter what the circumstances. Wasn't so long ago Barry was on holidays during a strike

Easy solution is to write a cheque but that solves nothing unless there is serious reform and lets face it the biggest problem in Irish Rail is unhelpful, rude and uninterested staff.

I understand the unions have an issue with namebadges, wonder why?

[James Howard]

With the CEO thinking so little of his customers that he's gone on holidays, I think I'll change my attitude towards which days I'll be claiming refunds for. If the vouchers can be exchanged for cash, I will convert them to cash and make an appropriate donation to a charity.

Barry Kenny is really just a mouthpiece - he wouldn't have any real role in negotiations but no settlement can be found without the CEO making a decision and with him away, any potential negotiations would be fairly tortuous.

While there a lot of unhelpful staff at Irish Rail, I really feel for the ones who care. Several of the ticket collectors on the Sligo line are pleasant helpful people as are the people who staff my station so it is not fair to tar them all with the same brush. Unfortunately, I would suspect that being pleasant and helpful won't do them much good in such an organisation.

[berneyarms]

Originally Posted by James Howard

I had read rumours on boards that this was the case, but Barry Kenny has confirmed that David Franks is currently on holiday. This beggars belief given that these days were set several weeks ago and would indicate that there is no serious attempt being made by Irish Rail to agree this.

http://breakingnews.ie/ireland/irish...ms-639664.html

I'm not sure David Franks being here or not is going to make any difference.

The company have exhausted every possible talks process available to them, made several offers and each one has been turned down.

At this stage it's the employees determined to throw the toys out of the pram and I don't think any talks process (which Franks would not be directly involved in, in any case - that's always handled by HR specialists), is going to resolve this until after the first strike at least.

[Jamie2k9]

I agree him being on holiday or not won't make any difference, he does not need to be present in person at any talks which neither side especially the unions don't want to hold this week but they will be held most likely next week after the 2 days.

He deserves it, discussions have being going on 1.5 to 2 years and his holidays should not be dictated by the unions. How many Irish Rail staff will be on their own holidays over the strike days. I don't see them cancelling they plans to come and picket.

[James Howard]

I would agree that practically speaking it makes little difference as to whether or not he is on holiday. But from a PR perspective, it makes for terrible optics. Also, this has been brewing for a long time. It has been pretty obvious for several months now that late August would be the time for people to go out so that it would hit around the time the schools go back.

There is a difference between being CEO and a line-worker so the statement about workers not coming back off holidays to picket is not a terribly fair comparison. One of the differences in being a CEO in a normal business is that the shareholders will expect that you should drop everything personal in the event of a crisis.

[Jamie2k9]

Nightmare PR situation but as the unions don't want to talk should the CEO not take his holidays. They were out criticizing it today but they still don't want to talk. Double standards as if he was hear they would do nothing either.

Anyway he is back in work Monday so one might assume he is due back in the next day or two.

[grainne whale]

It certainly looks bad - seems like he's only interested in picking up the massive salary rather than being around to oversee things, and showing a lack of interest for passengers who will be affected.

[James Howard]

The NTA have refused to pay the subvention to Irish Rail on strike days.

http://www.irishtimes.com/business/i...head-1.1903776

[berneyarms]

Originally Posted by James Howard

The NTA have refused to pay the subvention to Irish Rail on strike days.

http://www.irishtimes.com/business/i...head-1.1903776

That was inevitable (and rightly so) given the precedent set in the Dublin Bus and Bus Eireann disputes.

[Traincustomer]

The NTA have published details of bus services specifically operating on strike days, of existing services offering additional capacity and of services which may offer alternatives.

Here is an extract from this information:

Fergus Farrell (BusLink) service 418 from Athenry to Galway will provide an additional Sunday 10:00 am departure from Athenry on days of industrial action.

Enfield Coaches Ltd. Enfield Coaches Ltd will provide the following services between Longford and Dublin via Edgeworthstown and Mullingar.
From Longford:
Sunday (days of industrial action only):
Longford (Ballymahon Street) 18:45; Edgeworthstown (Longford Road) 19:00; Mullingar (Austin Friars Street) 19:25; Mullingar (Dublin Road) 19:30; Heuston Station 20:05; The Four Courts 20:10 and O’Connell Bridge 20:15

Monday to Friday (days of industrial action only):
Longford (Ballymahon Street) 06:00; Edgeworthstown (Longford Road) 06:15; Mullingar (Austin Friars Street) 06:40; Mullingar (Dublin Road) 06:45; Heuston Station 08:00; The Four Courts 08:10; O’Connell Bridge 08:15; Nassau Street 08:20; Merrion Square 08:25; Fitzwilliam Square 8:30.
Longford (Ballymahon Street) 06:30; Edgeworthstown (Longford Road) 06:45; Mullingar (Austin Friars Street) 07:10; Mullingar (Dublin Road) 07:15; Heuston Station 08:30; The Four Courts 08:40; O’Connell Bridge 08:45; Nassau Street 08:50; Merrion Square 08:55; Fitzwilliam Square 09:00
From Dublin:
Monday to Friday (days of industrial action only):
Dublin (George’s Quay) 16:15; Mullingar (Dublin Road) 17:40; Mullingar (Austin Friars Street) 17:45; Edgeworthstown (Longford Road) 18:15; Longford (Ballymahon Street) 18:30
Dublin (George’s Quay) 18:00; Mullingar (Dublin Road) 19:25; Mullingar (Austin Friars Street) 19:30; Edgeworthstown (Longford Road) 20:00; Longford (Ballymahon Street) 20:15

- See more at: http://www.transportforireland.ie/ra....sTbEuRNg.dpuf

Source: http://www.transportforireland.ie/rail-strike/

[AD11]

I had to get the bus today and it cost me €17 - unlikely my refund will cover it but I will be claiming just the same. Customers can make a point too.