Labour Court intervention needed in ongoing Luas dispute – Madigan

Fine Gael TD for Dublin Rathdown, Josepha Madigan, has said that the Labour Court must intervene in the ongoing and highly disruptive Luas dispute, to prevent any further disruption to commuters.

“Luas users have now had to endure 12 days of disruption and there’s more to come – it is time to put an end to this long-running dispute.

“Over 100,000 people rely on the Luas every day. I have been contacted by many of my constituents, whose daily lives have now been disrupted on a number of occasions by this long-running dispute.

“Dublin needs a functioning Luas system to make this city work. It is a vital part of the city infrastructure, relied on by one in ten Dubliners.

“I was happy to hear that the Labour Court has decided to request a briefing this week from the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) and Luas operator Transdev. The Labour Court will then use these briefings to determine whether there is scope for it to intervene in the ongoing dispute.

“It is my firm hope that the Labour Court can now assist the parties in finding a solution. This strike cannot be allowed to drag on without conclusion. As a mediator in some of the toughest and most bitter family law disputes, I know that nothing is impossible and solutions and compromises can always be found.

“The strike has caused huge disruption for twelve days. A resolution needs to be found soon before commuters face further frustration and inconvenience.”