BOTH sides in the Dunnes Stores dispute are increasingly hopeful of an early return to talks after an all out picket brought business to a standstill in the company's 73 outlets yesterday.
Informal contacts between management and union representatives were continuing last night to try to ensure that the negotiations will have a better chance of success once talks resume.
The Minister for Enterprise and Employment, Mr Bruton, again expressed his confidence that the outstanding issues in the dispute could be resolved "at an early date" by face to face negotiations between unions and management.
Lay offs began immediately among retailers in centres where Dunnes is the anchor tenant and among companies for which Dunnes is the sole outlet for their products.
Estimates of the number of jobs threatened by a protracted dispute ranged from 8,000 to 15,000. Dunnes Stores itself is believed to have lost £50 million to competitors during the three week strike last year.
A company director, Mr Andrew Street, has expressed concern that the dispute could damage the public image of Dunnes Stores. Yesterday, Mr Street and fellow directors Mrs Margaret Heffernan, Mr Frank Dunne and Mr Dick Reeves held lengthy discussions to try to find an acceptable formula for the processing of staff grievances. It was on this issue that the talks foundered on Sunday, leading to the all out strike.
The company has repeated that it accepts the principle of reference to third parties such as the Labour Relations Commission or the Labour Court. "There are, however, specific aspects of the formula which the company wishes to consider further and clarify before concluding an agreement," Dunnes said in a statement.
The main union involved, Mandate, in response, said that the company had already finalised its position with the unions at 4.30 a.m. last Sunday.
Its general secretary, Mr Owen Nulty, said that he was waiting for Dunnes to end its deliberations and hoped to be contacted by the company today.
Opposition politicians called on Mr Bruton to intervene, as did the Irish Small and Medium Enterprises' Association, but sources close to the dispute said they thought it was more likely the issue would be resolved by talks between the two parties.
Observers pointed to the positive tone of an interview given by Mr Street on RTE, where he said he was sure a settlement could be reached.
Management opened all 73 Dunnes outlets throughout the Republic yesterday, but there was very little business. It was unclear last night whether the shops would be opened again today.