Unions representing craft workers at Aer Lingus have said they will wait until early next week before making a final decision on the form of industrial action they are likely to take.
The company has warned passengers of a real possibility of travel disruption in the event of industrial action but it said precautionary measures were being taken.
SIPTU officials are to meet on Monday to consider a letter from management warning that staff will be suspended if they do not co-operate with the training of new recruits hired under new terms and conditions.
Speaking on RTÉ Radio's Morning Ireland, Aer Lingus Commercial Director Enda Corneille appealed to the union to enter talks.
Also on Morning Ireland, Michael Halpenny of SIPTU said his members wanted past agreements honoured.
SIPTU says the matter will be brought to the union's disputes committee on Monday evening ahead of the expiry of SIPTU's strike notice on Wednesday.
In the letter the company warned that staff at the airline will be suspended if they do not cooperate in training new employees recruited on lower terms and conditions.
Contingency plans
Aer Lingus has drawn up contingency plans which it will put into place in the event of industrial action.
The airline said it was unclear as to when strike action might take place but said it was advising customers that disruption to travel from Wednesday onwards was a possibility.
Aer Lingus said it would be waiving fees for customers who had booked to travel on these days, and they could change their flights free of charge by using the company website.
Tensions between management and SIPTU rose after the airline sent a letter to union officials warning of possible staff suspensions.
Aer Lingus has so far recruited 12 new check-in and boarding staff on the new lower conditions set out in the company's cost cutting proposals.
However, SIPTU had already notified management that its members would not cooperate with training these new recruits.
The recruits are due to shadow experienced staff on the job, from next Wednesday, the same day that strike notice expires.
