Talks will resume this morning between Iarnrod Eireann and representatives of up to 800 railway line inspectors to prevent a second major rail dispute beginning next week.
SIPTU, which represents most "permanent way" employees, has served the company with strike notice to start on Monday following a ballot of its members five weeks ago.
Negotiations involving SIPTU, the National Bus and Railworkers Union and company management adjourned last night without reaching any conclusion.
The dispute centres on a 20 per cent productivity pay award recommended by the Labour Court but rejected by SIPTU without a ballot. Other sticking points include stipulations under the proposed new pay agreement on compulsory night work and new rostering arrangements.
The union's regional secretary, Mr Noel Dowling, stressed there was no connection between the dispute and the ILDA's unofficial action.
Negotiations have been continuing since 1996 on the pay deal, which will be the first since 1978 for permanent way workers - the staff who carry out maintenance on rail lines and inspect every track in the State twice a week.
They are among the lowest paid workers in CIE, receiving a basic wage of £210 to £227 a week. Only by working extensive overtime can they boost average earnings to between £15,000 and £20,000.
On March 13th, the Labour Court recommended that they receive 20 per cent in two phases over the next year. The National Bus and Railworkers Union accepted the offer but not SIPTU.
Unofficial action by workers in March brought DART and inter-city trains to a standstill for three days.
