In 1990, the Labour Court did not recommend conceding the Services Industrial Professional Technical Union's claim for pay and conditions parity for 700 part-time school bus drivers at Bus Eireann. The recommendation was signed on 25 April 1990.
The union sought pay comparable to regular drivers, along with sick pay, a pension scheme, free bus passes, seniority-based allocation of new buses and uniforms. It argued that some drivers had long service and should have conditions matching full-time staff. Bus Eireann said the proposals would increase costs while the School Transport Scheme was under financial pressure.
The Court found that a November 1988 agreement required cooperation to reduce the scheme's costs and limit additional cost burdens on the company. It said that agreement precluded consideration of cost-increasing claims during its term, and did not recommend conceding the union's claims.