TALKS between unions and management at Irish Ferries will resume at the Labour Relations Commission on Tuesday, after progress yesterday averted an all-out strike.
Last night's scheduled sailing to Cherbourg was expected to leave Rosslare in the morning, but there were differing interpretations of a joint union position adopted after yesterday's meeting.
A spokesman for Irish Ferries said the agreement postponed all industrial action until next week. However, representatives of both SIPTU and the Seamen's Union of Ireland were travelling to Rosslare last night to persuade staff to scale down the tactic of delaying sailings, which the SUI insisted remained in place.
A SIPTU spokesman said feelings were running high because those working on this weekend's sailing would be laid off on their return. But he was optimistic that a report of the progress made would persuade workers to reduce the planned eight-hour delay.