Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Socialist Party) | Oireachtas source

Again, I ask the Minister to listen. I just explained why the workers do not accept the Minister's reassurance. The public service obligation will end in 2019 and all bets will be off. This is a stealth process. Of course the Government is not going to privatise 100% of the transport system in one fell swoop. It will begin with 10% and take a softly softly approach. The workers are right to take action now rather than look back with regret in four or five years' time. Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann workers do not enjoy brilliant pay and conditions. Under austerity in the past few years, they have accepted significant pay cuts and worse terms and conditions. Some €55 million has been cut from Dublin Bus since 2009. However, they know that if they join the private sector it will be much worse. This has been the experience of all transport workers.

The Minister took no action until the strike was called. In the past few days he has come out with the reassurance that nobody will be forcibly moved, but he did so only when strike action was called. I call on the workers not to back down but to plough ahead and take full strength from solidarity and see the effects it has already brought from the Minister.

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