The General Secretary of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions said she doesn't see any early settlement happening in the Luas dispute.
Speaking on RTÉ's This Week programme, Patricia King said the effect of the strike on the travelling public was hugely regrettable.
"The last set of proposals in this dispute were rejected by 165 votes to two. To suggest that you can settle a dispute on lesser terms, and to suggest that the only way you will settle the dispute is on those lesser terms is not conducive to parties coming to a settlement," she said.
"At this moment in time I see no indication - unless something changes...I don't see any early settlement to the dispute unfortunately."
On Friday Luas tram drivers staged a one-day strike, the 11th since the dispute over pay with Luas operator Transdev began.
Further work stoppages are planned for several dates this month and next month.
Asked about the Minister for Transport's comments that he would not get involved in the dispute, Ms King said that was a matter for the Government and for the Minister.
Commenting on public sector pay, Ms King said that discussions on the reversal of pay cuts should happen a lot sooner than the date specified under the Lansdowne Road agreement.
"We've seen unprecedented growth in the economy...The figure for 2015 was something like 7.8% of GDP growth.
"I think there isn't any question but that with that level of growth, the terms of the Lansdowne Road Agreement...we'll have to see an acceleration of the terms of that agreement to ensure that workers in the public service are actually able to achieve restoration of pay rates at a quicker pace," said Ms King.
She said public sector workers had taken one of the biggest hits in the last six to seven years in terms of their pay, terms and conditions.
A spokesperson for the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform said Minister Paschal Donohoe had said he and the Government would be standing by the Lansdowne Road Agreement as the only framework possible for managing the needs of the public service while delivering the services that the country and people need.
