Hundreds of laid off Irish Ferries workers will return to work over the next week after a row over how cost-cutting measures are to be negotiated appeared to be resolved last night.
The company suspended sailings on three routes on Tuesday, blaming the cancellations on trade unions for refusing to agree to joint talks on measures it says must be taken to bring down its cost base.
An eight-month talks process ended last month after the company said it could not negotiate with the Seamen's Union of Ireland (SUI) and SIPTU separately. The Irish Congress of Trade Unions intervened yesterday and a formula was agreed at the Labour Relations Commission to facilitate joint talks.
Irish Ferries says it needs to cut 3.4 million from its operating costs to bring it in line with competitors and wants to lay off over 50 workers and increase officers hours at sea.
The ferries suspended last weekend were the MV Isle of Inishmore on the Rosslare - Pembroke route; the HSC Jonathan Swift on the Dublin - Holyhead route and the MV Normandy on the Rosslare - Cherbourg route. The MV Ulysses operating the Dublin - Holyhead route was not affected.
Two services are to resume tomorrow and the Rosslare - Cherbourg sailing will resume on Friday, the company confirmed after a meeting this morning.
A short statement issued afterwards said Irish Ferries would resume talks tomorrow and are expected to stretch into next week.