Labour Court recommends existing procedures for Iarnrod Eireann disciplinary cases

The Labour Court recommended that alleged disciplinary breaches by six train drivers at Iarnrod Eireann (Athlone) be dealt with under the company’s existing formal procedures. It said a policy for handling unofficial industrial action should be negotiated and agreed with the unions before becoming part of the official disputes procedure. The company said the drivers’ planned Saturday evening withdrawal of services disrupted the Galway–Athlone timetable. The union argued that management used an unagreed procedure and said the drivers disputed involvement in unofficial action. The Court considered the action unofficial, noting it was not sanctioned by the union, and did not accept that other workers’ refusal to follow an instruction justified similar conduct by the drivers. The recommendation was signed on 13 August 2004.