Ulster Bank's staff in the Republic have voted overwhelmingly to take industrial action if the bank seeks to impose compulsory job losses or pay cuts.

The staff, who are members of the Irish Bank Officials' Association (IBOA), said there would be no disruption to services for customers over the Christmas period.

Responding to the result of the ballot yesterday, Ulster Bank chief executive Mr Martin Wilson accused staff of voting for industrial action before the bank had outlined the full details to them. "The negotiation process needs to be given time to proceed properly," he said.

Ninety-five per cent of the staff in the Republic voted for industrial action. Earlier this week, staff in the North voted by 80 per cent to conduct a similar ballot. IBOA assistant general secretary Mr Larry Broderick said industrial action would be taken only if Ulster Bank attempted to impose its proposed pay cuts and compulsory job losses, which the association claims are in breach of the commitments made by Royal Bank of Scotland when it took over the bank last year.

"We have made it clear consistently that Ulster Bank staff are happy to negotiate a change of programme at the bank but we will not do so under threat," Mr Broderick said.

The IBOA has called on the bank to stop advertising new jobs under the proposed structure until the negotiation process is concluded. The issues in dispute will be heard by independent tribunals in the Republic and the North over the coming month.

Mr Wilson said the ballot for industrial action was based on two unfounded allegations - that the bank has a voluntary redundancy plan and that it intends unilaterally to implement new terms and conditions.

"The reality is that the bank has no plan for compulsory redundancies and we are committed to ongoing negotiations on terms and conditions."

Mr Wilson said the bank was committed to respecting the negotiation process and was confident there would be a realisation of the opportunities and benefits to staff and customers in its plan.