Union officials are to hold talks today with Galway City Council over its refusal to give staff time off to attend the two biggest days of the Galway races.
Management at City Hall had informed staff that they intended to keep it open next Wednesday and Thursday when the Galway Plate and Ladies Day take place. Traditionally, the offices close at 11am on these days to allow staff to attend the races.
Pádraig Mulligan, an official with trade union Impact, said his members (more than 60 per cent of whom are council workers) had been told they could no longer have these unofficial holidays as they are not included in the National Wage Agreement.
He insisted that under the agreement, consultation must take place before work changes were introduced.
Both sides will meet today to try and resolve the dispute. "We're hoping to have a positive result by lunchtime," Mr Mulligan said. "If not, it will force us into a decision we don't want to make. We'll have the discussions first and face that fence when we come to it - like the horses."
Staff at Galway County Council, where Impact also has members, will be attending the races as normal while County Hall closes early.
City councillor Michael Crowe (FF) said it was inappropriate to be discussing this a week before the races.
"I accept that times are changing and that businesses are staying open now during race week," he said, "but surely management could work around the two days involved so that some staff could go to the races one day while the others man the offices and vice versa."