Iarnród Éireann management and unions are due to begin talks at the Workplace Relations Commission on Wednesday.
The National Bus and Rail Union (NBRU) and SIPTU have warned that industrial action could take place if there is no improvement in the terms and conditions for Irish Rail drivers.
The NBRU and SIPTU released a joint statement on Tuesday warning that there could be strike action if what they have called “long overdue improvements for train drivers” are not met, chief among which is a shorter working week.
According to RTÉ, a report commissioned by the Labour Court to examine the issues in dispute will form a key part of the talks between NBRU, SIPTU and Iarnród Éireann management at the Labour Relations Commission, which will commence on Wednesday and last for three days.
Irish Rail drivers are seeking to reduce their working week from 43 to 35 hours in line with their counterparts in the UK and in the joint statement, it was claimed that it took a four-hour stoppage last year for the concerns of the drivers to be recognised.
The situation will become clearer following the conclusion of talks at the Labour Relations Commission, but SIPTU and NBRU have stated that failure to reach a satisfactory outcome would inevitably result in industrial action being taken by their members.
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