Talks to save the Irish Greyhound Derby and The Late Late Show's fundraising participation in Bord na gCon's top sporting event begin this morning.
SIPTU and Bord representatives will meet in Dublin to resolve a long-running dispute over staff parking. Unless a resolution is found, 70 tote sellers, calculators and security staff will boycott the Derby at Shelbourne Park on Saturday night.
One of the dogs entered for the race is called "The Late, Late Show", and a highlight of Saturday's programme on RTE will be how the dog performs and how much it raises for charity. Bord na gCon stands to lose substantially as well, as the Derby attracts up to 6,000 punters.
The dispute dates back to the board's decision to sell land at Shelbourne Park and Harold's Cross. One casualty of the sale was free car-parking for staff, many of whom earn only £22.90 a night.
SIPTU is seeking restoration of car-parking as part of an overall deal, which includes a pay rise and a pension scheme. Last week, Bord na gCon offered up to 15 car-parking spaces to named individuals, but this was rejected. The union wants spaces for all members who drive to work, while management says it needs the limited space available for trainers, dog-owners and the public.
The SIPTU branch secretary, Ms Chris Rowland, said yesterday: "If industrial action is to be averted, the management must act now to restore free car-parking to all tote staff and not just to named individuals. Substantial progress has been made on a number of other problems in relation to pay and a pension scheme, but the issue of free car-parking, which had been enjoyed by all tote staff, remains unresolved."