Iarnród Éireann forces an unofficial strike and then tries to con their customers too.

national | rights, freedoms and repression | news report Wednesday May 17, 2006 02:42 by Seán Ryan

I got caught up in Monday's Rail Strike and Iarnród Éireann tried to trample on my rights

I was caught up in the Rail strike that started on Monday morning.

As I arrived in Heuston station in Dublin at around 1.30pm. I listened to the message from the intercom. I was informed that Iarnród Éireann apologised for ‘any’ inconvenience that might have arisen (like there was some chance that some commuters might not have been inconvenienced), and that no services could be guaranteed. The message always ended up blaming the whole mess on the workers who had decided to take strike action.

I looked at the main information display, which told me virtually the same as the recorded message and asked me to keep an eye on the other electronic information boards around. These other boards remained blank throughout my stay. Ticket-sales machines continued to function however.

I went to the information booth to enquire as to what the story was. I’d purchased a return ticket for €48.50 Saturday morning in Limerick so that I could attend the Network meeting at the Teacher’s Club and I was anxious to know how I was going to get home, I was close to being out of cash, the weekend had lasted longer than expected with the advent of the plight of the refugees in St. Patrick’s Cathedral on Sunday. Anyway, I was told that there would ‘probably’ be a bus arranged for 3pm that would get me to Limerick, but if I were to avail of this ‘remedy’ that I would have to surrender my ticket upon boarding the bus and that a receipt for this ticket would not be forthcoming. I went for a cup of coffee feeling between a rock and a hard place, I couldn’t afford to purchase a bus ticket elsewhere.

Whilst I was sipping my coffee I noticed two journalists wandering the station, photographing the place and talking to beached commuters, not being one to miss an obvious opportunity I went back to the information booth.

I’d argued the legality and morality of the ‘remedy,’ on my first visit. This time a man somewhere in his late forties to early fifties came from the background to talk to me and got one of the attendants to move out of his way. I again argued my case with this man, who told me in no uncertain terms that as policy I’d have to accept their terms if I were to return home. He did however at this point offer to return half my fare price which was fair enough, but I was pissed at having my rights trampled and refused this. I demanded a copy of their terms and conditions, which were not available. After much searching and ordering of underlings about, a copy of Iarnród Éireann’s ‘conditions of carriage’ was furnished to me.

I took a seat and quickly scanned the booklet. Section 12.3 of section A of these conditions states, “Passengers must retain their tickets until they have exited the station of their destination and they must dispose of their tickets in an appropriate manner in accordance with litter laws.” Now if I was forced to surrender my ticket upon embarking the bus offered as a remedy, I’d be breaking Iarnród Éireann’s terms and conditions. Armed with an angle I went over and introduced myself to the two reporters. They were delighted with my story and started to take photos of me. Whilst this was happening I watched the guy who had furnished the booklet to me hurriedly gather a small crowd around himself, and he started an animated conversation with them with the crowd frequently looking in my direction.

The Daily Mirror quoted extracts from what I had to say to them in yesterday morning’s paper on page 2 (Tuesday).

The bus that was to take me to Limerick was finally confirmed and announced at eight minutes to three. Not a singular passenger on the bus I took was even asked to produce a ticket never mind to hand it over.

Tuesday afternoon I walked into Colbert Station in Limerick and I asked for my half refund. The young lady that greeted me told me that this wasn’t a problem. Then she told me that I’d have to fill in a form that asked questions such as my name, my address and my telephone number amongst other questions that were none of Iarnród Éireann’s business. I informed this young lady of my opinion on this and refused to fill in the form. After much arguing with the an unseen boss through the intercession of the young lady it was eventually agreed that I’d sign a bit of paper with the amount I was to receive. I signed my name and added the phrase, ‘All rights reserved.’ and exited with my refund.

Next I took a trip to the citizen’s advice bureau where I found out that my actions in Heuston Station were perfectly justified – the chap I spoke to called Iarnród Éireann’s actions in Heuston Station ‘dubious.’

However he told me that I should have filled in the form presented to me at Colbert Station, and that I should have paid the 10% loss of my refund that the form demanded. I didn’t agree with the advisor chap on this, but I spose that’s no surprise. Either way it remains obvious the Iarnród Éireann messed up big-time each and every time they dealt with me. I’d print this form in question here but I’d probably infringe on copyright.

As a final note I was asked by one of the reporters from the Daily Mirror, “did I blame the worker’s who went on strike.” I replied to him that I most certainly didn’t, I reckoned that the unofficial strike had resulted from some unofficial action perpetrated on them by Iarnród Éireann.

Way to go Iarnród Éireann, your stupidity and greed know no bounds. I’m left wondering were any passengers on any of the other busses offered as ‘remedies’ forced to surrender their tickets in this ‘dubious’ fashion?