Irish Ferries services could face disruption within the next three weeks after ship's officers represented by SIPTU voted for industrial action.
The ballot by 120 ships officers employed by the company was almost unanimous in favour of strike action over plans by the company to employ agency staff on its French route in order to cut costs.
At present, Irish Ferries is operating its Normandy ferry on the Rosslare-Cherbourg crossing with a boat fully crewed by agency staff.
SIPTU Branch Secretary Paul Smyth said that the union had accepted a Labour Court recommendation that ordinary rating positions on the Normandy ferry would be outsourced to agency staff, but that ships officers would continue to be directly employed by the company.
He said the union had also accepted cuts in leave, terms and conditions for officers on the service that would save the company almost €1m a year.
However, he pointed out that the company had still not indicated whether it was accepting the Labour Court recommendation.
General Officers of SIPTU are currently deciding whether to sanction strike action.
If they do so, two weeks strike notice will be served within the coming week and sources say industrial action could affect not just the Rosslare-Cherbourg crossing, but also the company's three UK routes.
Irish Ferries declined to comment on the matter.
It is understood that the company has not yet been formally notified of the ballot result.
