British retailer Argos has told customers that its shops in the Republic will open tomorrow despite pickets on more than 30 outlets.
The pickets are set to go ahead after talks aimed at averting a dispute ended unsuccessfully on Wednesday night.
Mandate assistant general secretary, Linda Tanham
The trade union Mandate warned that a further day of action could take place at the company before Christmas as part of the row over pay.
Speaking after talks chaired by the National Implementation Body (NIB), Mandate assistant general secretary Linda Tanham said: "We had discussions with the company, but unfortunately the company weren't prepared to budge on the problem of low pay".
Ms Tanham said that up to 2006, the union had an agreement with the company under which both sides would discuss pay increases for staff but that last year, without agreement with the union, the company abandoned this process and reverted to the national wage agreement.
Ms Tanham said Mandate had sought a 10 per cent pay increase for staff (or €1 per hour), which would be more than that available under Towards 2016.
She said direct negotiations had worked well up to last year and that "for management to now hide behind the national wage agreement was unacceptable, particularly when we are representing low-paid workers".
Ms Tanham said most Argos staff were paid €9 per hour. Mandate, which mainly represents relatively low-paid retail and bar workers, withdrew from social partnership last year.
The trade union has called on the public to support its one-day action. "We're conscious of the fact that this action may cause inconvenience to the public and that's why we've confined the action to one day," said Ms Tanham.
Employers group Ibec criticised the action, claiming it was a breach of the national partnership agreement.
"The strategy being pursued by Mandate cannot be allowed to succeed as otherwise the future of the national partnership agreement, Towards 2016, will be at risk. The social partners are obliged to ensure the delivery of the stability and industrial peace provisions of 'Towards 2016'. These can not be selectively abandoned or set aside by the trade unions," said Ibec director Brendan McGinty.
In a statement this morning, the NIB said urged both sides to "engage in urgent discussions" to avoid tomorrow's action.
In a statement yesterday, Argos said it was "confident" they are paying "fair and competitive rates".
"Over the past 18 months we have been reviewing our pay rates in both the UK and the Republic of Ireland and we are clear that our current rates of pay are extremely competitive. We are also following the terms of the National Wage Agreement which has been ratified by both the LRC and the Labour Court."