All change? - Thoughts on Ireland without Bus Éireann
Well, you gotta hand it to the unions, they sure are persistent. The strike by Bus Éireann drivers here in Ireland has entered it's third week, and there are no signs of a resolution anytime soon. Talks at the Workplace Relations Commission, an independent mediation body, are ongoing, but I don't hold out much hope for a resolution, as the two sides are miles apart. Meanwhile, an unannounced "wildcat strike" last Friday effectively shut down Irish Rail and Dublin Bus operations for most of the morning, additionally eating away at any sympathy the working population of Ireland may have had towards the strikers. At the same time, in a Herculean effort, private operators such as Aircoach, or Dublin Coach are laying on extra services, and more and more companies are organizing ride sharing exchanges or shuttle buses for their employees. People, especially in the major population centers of Ireland, are beginning to get accustomed to a life without Bus Éireann, which is