Labour Court recommends Luas drivers accept breaks at other depots

The Labour Court recommended that Luas drivers accept breaks at a depot other than the one where they began their shift, following a dispute between Transdev Light Rail Ltd and the Services Industrial Professional Technical Union over changes after the Luas Cross City line opened. The union said drivers faced extra costs because they could no longer bring lunch from their originating depot. Transdev relied on a 2016 agreement requiring cooperation with the line’s extension and barring cost-increasing claims during its term. The company estimated that conceding the claim would cost €250,000 a year. The Court found that the move from one depot to two meant established practice had to change. It noted that drivers’ pay and overall working hours were unaffected. It recommended continued work to improve facilities at both depots, completion of a risk assessment, and ensuring any supplied cooler bags could safely carry food between depots. The recommendation was signed on 17 August 2018.