Labour Court says training train is part of locomotive drivers’ duties

In a recommendation signed on 28 July 2008, the Labour Court said qualified locomotive drivers could be required to take responsibility for a training train and should do so as directed. The dispute involved Iarnrod Eireann and the Services Industrial Professional Technical Union and National Bus & Rail Union. The company said it removed two drivers from the payroll on 6 June 2008 after they refused to drive the training train. The unions denied that they refused and said training participation was voluntary. The Court said the training arrangement had operated since 2005 without objection and was necessary for effective driver training. It found the drivers had refused a legitimate instruction and that the company acted reasonably in removing them from the payroll while they refused assigned duties. It could not recommend compensation for their lost earnings.