The Labour Relations Commission has intervened in the dispute at Irish Ferries in a bid to resolve the strike over the contracting out of 150 jobs.
It is understood that the LRC has invited SIPTU and Irish Ferries management to separate exploratory discussions tomorrow morning.
The discussions will be chaired by LRC facilitator Brian McGinn. He will meet a delegation from SIPTU at 10am while the meeting with the company is scheduled for 11.30am.
SIPTU has served strike notice on Irish Ferries on behalf of 100 ratings who are members of the union.
Up to now only ships' officers had formally been on strike in the dispute over outsourcing jobs on the Normandy, on the Ireland/France route.
A total of 650 staff, nearly half the workforce, have now been laid off as strike action continues.
No moves have been made to settle the dispute and it appears no new contacts have been made between SIPTU and company management.
With no resolution in sight, Irish Ferries cancelled scheduled sailings on Sunday. There were further layoffs yesterday with around 120 shore-based employees let go.
This morning, the company reiterated its view that the union is in breach of agreements and said it is a matter for ships' officers when they decide to go back to work.
SIPTU has pleaded with the Government to intervene. Last night the Minister for Enterprise Trade and Employment, Micheál Martin, called on the two sides to stop sparring and get into the Labour Relations Commission.
