Dublin Bus and unions representing striking drivers are to meet at a special session of the Labour Court tomorrow to try to resolve the dispute that has disrupted bus services across a large part of Dublin.
Workers will continue to picket the Harristown depot for a fifth day today, but the Labour Court intervention has ensured the dispute does not immediately spread to other depots.
The parties were invited to attend the court on the condition that there be no escalation or unofficial action in the dispute.
The two unions involved in the dispute, which centres on a new roster and starting location for two new cross-city bus routes, welcomed the court's invitation.
Siptu branch organiser Willie Noone said the invitation followed discussions between the parties and the court earlier this week. "This is a positive development. The fact that the court has had an opportunity to discuss the issues with both sides and feels it can continue to play a useful role is hopeful.
Michael Faherty, general secretary of the National Bus and Rail Union (NBRU) said: "We presume they came to the conclusion that it was worth having another go at it. At 4pm we received some correspondence inviting us in on Saturday morning."
Dublin Bus released a one-line statement about the development, stating only that it would attend the talks.
Mr Faherty said that despite calls from some of the Harristown workers, the union and most of its members did not want at this stage to extend the dispute to other parts of the city.
"If it can be resolved by confining it to one department, why discommode the whole of the city?" he said.
So far, the action which began on Monday has disrupted about 60,000 commuters from the north and west of the city daily, and contributed to worsening traffic in the area as people take to their cars to try and get to work.
Trade union leaders from both Siptu and the NBRU have apologised to passengers but blamed the company for unilaterally introducing two new cross city routes - the 4A and 128 - without first discussing rosters with drivers.
Dublin Bus has argued it has the backing of the Labour Court for the introduction of the new routes. It also said it is asking drivers at Harristown to do no more than their counterparts at six other garages - in that their starts, breaks and finishes can take place in either the city centre or the depot.
Workers based at Harristown object to being forced to start or end their shifts in the city, claiming their working day would be lengthened.
The main areas hit by the strike have been Finglas, Swords, Ballymun, Blanchardstown, Donabate, Portrane, Dunboyne, Little Pace, Tyrrellstown, Damastown, Portmarnock, Kinsealy and Kilmore.