The National Bus and Rail Workers Union is calling for clarity after several bus drivers in Cork had their wages docked during Storm Bert.

A number of drivers chose to not report for work on health and safety grounds after Met Éireann issued a red weather warning for rain last month.

Bus Éireann said the safety of its staff was of "paramount importance" and they cancelled a number of services is West Cork due to the weather warning.

Drivers who failed to show up to work on other routes, however, were issued with formal warnings and their pay was docked.

Union response

The NBRU General Secretary Dermot O'Leary said the union is trying to understand Bus Eireann's decision-making process in the matter.

"When things fall down, our role is to make sure that our drivers are represented in their ability, first of all, to get their money restored, and then for us to gain an understanding from Bus Éireann on how they make those decisions around those types of red alert warnings," he said.

"This is the first occasion that I've seen a pubic transport company taking the decision to run services in the middle of a red alert warning, and we need to understand that."

Cork was one of many counties affected by travel disruption when Storm Bert made landfall last month.

Feature image: Expressway buses at Busaras Dublin, Leah Farrell/RollingNews.ie