SALES staff at Irish Life will today vote on a Labour Relations Commission (LRC) initiative aimed at breaking the deadlock in their long running dispute with the company.

The LRC formula is designed to give management and unions some breathing space to implement new work practices as part of a restructuring of the company. The commission has proposed that the Personal Financial Advisers (sales executives) should work to new managers but retain their old relationship with them.

The 420 field sales staff will vote on the proposal at a specially convened meeting in Portlaoise.

If accepted, both sides will begin negotiations on details of the company's proposals to sales employees, which include changes in the way they are paid and new methods of operation.

The LRC formula is understood to allow for five weeks of discussions. It is expected to be put to staff without a recommendation from the union in accordance with a request from the commission.

Irish Life has lifted its threat to dismiss sales staff who have refused to work within the new structure.

On Friday, the company withdrew dismissal notices sent to more than 30 staff following disciplinary hearings.

The dispute, which follows Irish Life's efforts to restructure its core life assurance business, has been running for some months now and has been very damaging for the company.

Both sides are understood to be anxious to reach a resolution which will finally allow it to adopt the proposed new work practices.

Under the new sales structure, staff will operate in teams and on a bonus related rather than commission based basis.

This has already been accepted by sales managers who were also represented by the Manufacturing Science Finance union (MSF).

The workforce fears the changes will affect its earning capacity and leave it without support in the sales field.