Unions won't affect Ireland's bus plans
Page 23
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
DESPITE the two prototypes still being blacked by Dublin trades unions, Coras Iompair Eireann (CIE) and Canadian manufacturer Bombardier are going ahead with plans to build Ireland's buses at a disused piano factory at Shannon, writes NOEL MILLIER.
But body workers from CIE's Inchicore works want bus manufacture to stay in Dublin and the Amalgamated Transport and General Workers Union has served notice that they are to strike in protest from March 7.
This is despite the fact that all employees from Van HoolMcArdle, CIE's previous abortive Irish bodybuilding effort in Dublin, are now employed 3y CIE.
Unions in Limerick are now said to welcome the CIE plans and Bombardier has already set up its management team. Interviews are already being conducted to appoint the 200 employees needed to start bus production at Shannon.
The buildings are already complete and production will be possible from April this year. The first underframe is expected to be ready in May, and the first complete vehicle 'should roll off the production hie in August.
Three main types — an nter city dual-purpose singledecker, a city single-deck bus, and a double-decker are pro)osed.
All three were designed for West German transport coniultants FFG by Otto Schultz famous for his pusher bus and ItiV designs) and are to be quipped with Allison V730 ;earboxes coupled to Detroit )iesel 6V-71 two-stroke six;ylinder engines.
The first 50 buses are ex)ected to be inter-urban ingle-deckers, and the first iouble-deckers should be built n February 1981.
Both prototypes are now in F;ngland for evaluation and )roving and will go to Ireland vhen the industrial situation Lllows. CIE's contract with Born • bardier is for the manufacturer to take responsibility for manufacture of buses and employment of staff. Bombardier will buy the General Motors running units and other parts, although CIE will own the jigs necessary to complete production.
The two concerns will have a contract which requires two years notice to terminate, except in the case of default by either party.
Bombardier will be able to offer buses for export to other customers subject to CIE's requirements being met and CIE receiving royalties and fees.
But it is unlikely that any spare production will be available, as the Irish transport undertaking's vehicle replacement programme is already more than two years behind schedule.