Labour Court rejects €650-per-driver claim over East Wall Bridge works

The Labour Court did not recommend conceding a claim for €650 per driver on behalf of 77 DART drivers employed by Iarnrod Eireann. The claim concerned disruption to weekend working while East Wall Bridge was closed for replacement work. The recommendation was dated 28 November 2003. The Services Industrial Professional Technical Union and National Bus and Rail Union said drivers faced long waits for transport back to their depots, late finishes and affected meal breaks. Management said the weekend changes were limited, the work was part of the normal bridge renewal programme and staff had agreed to cooperate under the New Deal. The Court noted that the work would improve rail services and the employees’ working environment, and that the company had tried to minimise disruption. It concluded that compensation was not warranted.