UP to one third of Labour Party TDs want the Tanaiste, Mr Spring, to rule out absolutely any possible coalition with Fianna Fail.
A ginger group has formed which is seeking to have the question of electoral strategy firmly decided before the election campaign begins.
Party sources confirmed last night that a majority of the eight Dublin backbenchers discussed the issue at a recent meeting.
They claim that some rural TDs support their view.
Three Dublin TDs - Ms Roisin Shortall, Mr Tommy Broughan and Dr Pat Upton - called separately last night for a discussion on the issue within the parliamentary party.
Dr Upton told The Irish Times they had got to face up to the political reality that the Irish public was divided for and against Fianna Fail. Labour's vote came from the group against Fianna Fail.
"Any equivocation about this question will cost us votes," he said.
"I would have no doubt that it did when Mr Spring went into government with Mr Reynolds after the last election."
The question had not been debated at all in the parliamentary party, Dr Upton added, because it could lead to conflicting views.
Calling for a party discussion on electoral strategy, Mr Broughan said he believed that Labour should stand on its own independent programme in the election, and indicate that it would co-operate with Fine Gael and Democratic Left afterwards.
It was imperative that the party should declare that it would not go down the Fianna Fail road in any circumstances, Mr Broughan said.
Ms Shortall also wanted any possibility of coalition with Fianna Fail firmly ruled out.
It was very important that people knew the kind of coalition government they would get "if they vote for the Labour Party and the numbers stack up", she said.
There were lingering problems in relation to the decision to go in with Fianna Fail in 1992, Ms Shortall stated.
It led to a lot of latent hostility. This issue had been exercising the minds of a lot of members recently, she said
