Irish Ferries faces the threat of renewed industrial action over the outsourcing of crew on its Rosslare-Cherbourg route.
Siptu, which organised a 10-day stoppage at the company in December, is to hold a strike ballot today of ships' officers on all the company's routes.
The move follows the company's failure to date to confirm its acceptance of a Labour Court recommendation aimed at resolving the dispute.
Siptu has accepted the recommendation, while the other union involved, the Seamen's Union of Ireland, is still considering it.
The Rosslare-Cherbourg service was due to resume today after a winter break, but the company announced yesterday that sailings had been postponed until next week for "operational and technical" reasons.
The strike in December arose from a decision by the company to outsource employment on the MV Normandy, the vessel used on the Rosslare-Cherbourg route.
It intends that all crew, including officers and ratings, be supplied by an external contractor, DFM Ltd.
However, the Labour Court has recommended that the company continue to directly employ officers and also that the position be reviewed at the end of the year.
It has recommended that ratings, who make up about 90 per cent of the personnel, should be outsourced by the company as planned.
Siptu represents officers on the Rosslare-Cherbourg route and has advised the court of its acceptance of the recommendation.
Irish Ferries has asked the court for clarification on a number of points.
However, in a letter to the court the company indicates that it will not implement the key recommendation on direct employment of officers.
Director of human resources Alf McGrath told the court the company could not directly employ the officers as it currently had no employees on the Rosslare-Cherbourg route.
