BUS STOPPED; Strike chaos hits capital ..and there's more today.

Byline: MARIE KIERANS

WILDCAT strikes by bus drivers yesterday brought commuter chaos to thousands of workers.

And there could be more of the same today with Dublin Bus unable to say when the dispute might end.

Day two of the unofficial action hit services on 39 routes after a stoppage by workers at Harristown depot spread to Clontarf, also in the north of the city. And there could be further disruption if other depots join the dispute.

The Dublin Bus workers walked put over cost-cutting plans which will see the fleet at the state-owned company cut by 120 vehicles.

The proposals were accepted by unions only last week. But employees are now resisting them after a driver was suspended for refusing to work a new schedule on the 128 route.

Fine Gael TD Terence Flanagan demanded immediate intervention from Transport Minister Noel Dempsey to resolve the crisis.

He said: "This is an unacceptable crisis that should never have happened. Bus drivers should not be allowed to walk off the job, and to leave thousands of people trying to get to work without transport.

"Dublin Bus should have back up measures in place to prevent this.

"There are no services operating in my constituency of Dublin North East which has left residents living in Coolock, Howth, Donaghmede, Portmarnock and Artane with no bus services.

"Mr Dempsey has been encouraging people to get out of their cars and use public transport.

"How can they when services are haphazard and passengers are left at the mercy of bus drivers.

"Where is Mr Dempsey now and why is he not intervening in this crisis." Dublin Bus Spokeswoman Cliodhna Ni Fatharta was unable to say how long the dispute will last.

She added: "As this is an unofficial action will be not be engaging in talks. "We want to apologise to customers for the disruption.

"It is hugely disappointing, given we are losing in the region EUR500,000 a week and we have had lengthy and open and frank discussions in relation to the cost-saving proposals which were voted on and accepted by workers."

Gardai said bus lanes had been opened to motorists to ease congestion during the morning rush hour yesterday but there were still significant tailbacks.

Irish Mirror Comment: Page 8

Send troops in

SOLDIERS should be used to break the the strike, business bosses said last night. IBEC urged the Government to consider the move if driver co-operation cannot be secured. Brendan McGinty said: "It will have negative effects for business and for commuters."

CAPTION(S):

ROAD TO NOWHERE Thousands of commuters were hit by the strike DOWN TOOLS Picket line in Clontarf yesterday