Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE) | Oireachtas source

The workers at Go-Ahead voted for strike action just before Christmas. They are now heading to the Labour Court. The reason they overwhelmingly voted for strike action is because of the low pay they face, which is entirely inadequate in the context of the cost-of-living crisis, along with the long shifts and unsociable hours. They are the victims of the project of successive governments to drive a race to the bottom in public transport in complete opposition to the interests of workers, those trying to take the bus and our environment and the need to shift people out of private cars. The other victims are those who are left waiting for buses, including the 175, 59 and 45A services, because, when one bus is missing as a result of insufficient staffing, people can be left waiting for up to an hour and a half. It is completely unacceptable. Go-Ahead is a profitable company. It sent more than €2.5 million home to its parent company in Britain in the last year. Will the Tánaiste support the workers in their struggle for a decent wage? Will he stop the process of deregulation and privatisation?

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