Luas dispute: Unions and bosses back to 'give talks another go' next week

Both sides in the Luas dispute are due back at the Workplace Relations Commission next Monday.

The talks are in a further effort to avert further industrial action by tram drivers, scheduled for March 8 and St Patrick's Day (March 17). They follow a 48-hour strike last week.

Drivers are seeking pay rises of up to 53% over five years, whereas management at the company say 3% is a more reasonable opening position.

Director General of the Workplace Relations Commission Kieran Mulvey said he hoped both sides could reach an agreement to prevent further disruption to commuters.

He said: "We felt we might as well give this a further go with a view towards settling the dispute, largely in the public interest and the interests of the 90,000 people who use (the Luas).

"It behoves everybody to become involved now in setting their minds to settling this dispute."

He said a few days had been set aside next week to work towards an agreement.

Earlier, SIPTU spokesman Eoin Reidy sais the Union was prepared to negotiate.

"We've always said that that's an opening position, we've always said we're prepared to negotiate, we've always said we're prepared to moderate that and compromise," he said.

"That position has always been the case, the problem up to now is we haven't had a partner in the employer to negotiate with. We hope that changes, but it remains to be seen."