The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) is expected to intervene on Tuesday in the dispute which threatens to bring Bus Éireann services nationwide to a standstill next week.
The WRC is expected to invite the company and trade unions representing the 2,600 staff to exploratory talks on Wednesday.
Unions are planning an all-out indefinite strike from February 20th to protest against management plans to introduce radical cuts to staff earnings as part of a new survival plan.
Bus Éireann has argued the cuts are necessary to address a serious financial crisis at the State-owned transport companies.
