Racing at Leopardstown and Limerick on St Stephen's Day could be affected by a threatened strike of bookmakers' clerks. SIPTU has served strike notice because the Irish National Bookmakers' Association has refused to meet it to discuss the introduction of pensions, a sick-pay scheme and new allowances.
The honorary secretary of the INBA, Mr Francis Hyland, said his members are prepared to discuss pay increases due under Partnership 2000, but not the additional issues that SIPTU wishes to raise.
He also said that the association would prefer to resolve differences in direct negotiations. SIPTU wants to refer the issues to the Labour Relations Commission.