MSF, the union for skilled and professional people, is seeking €1,500 (£1,180) for each of its members involved in the euro changeover. The union has some 15,000 members in the financial services sector, but the claim refers specifically to those whose workload will be increased due to the changeover.

The Central Bank has offered staff at its currency centre in Sandyford £1,600 each, which has caused some annoyance among employers. However, the workload of staff in Sandyford will double in January, as they replace old notes and coins with new ones.

MSF is also seeking a 5 per cent pay rise next January for all staff. This would consist of the last 4 per cent pay rise due under the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness (PPF) being brought forward from next June, plus the "consolidation" of the 1 per cent lump sum due next April as an ongoing increase.

The Irish secretary of the union, Mr John Tierney, said employers could not regard next January as "business as usual". His members were being told there was a moratorium on holidays over Christmas "and that is not business as usual".

Employers are expected to resist the move strongly. Head of human resources at the Irish Life & Permanent Group Mr Niall Saule said yesterday the firm had agreed to invest £17 million (€21.6 million) in "balancing out" pay scales and employees' shares as a result of the merger with TSB.

Part of that deal was co-operation with change. This was also provided for in the revision of the PPF, which secured an extra 2 per cent for workers. "We don't see any basis for the claim at all," Mr Saule said.

Minister for Public Enterprise Ms O'Rourke said at the Irish Bank Officials' Association conference last week that its members had "a well-documented case" for their euro compensation claim.