WAR of words has broken out between both sides in the long running Irish Life dispute. Suspended staff have asked for payment for the eight weeks they have been out of work, while management has dismissed the request as ludicrous.

On Wednesday, the 300 sales staff overwhelmingly rejected Labour Relations Commission (LRC) proposals to break the deadlock. The company wants to restructure the way its products are sold and commissions are paid.

Yesterday the sales force's union, MSF, warned that the dispute was becoming increasingly bitter and its national secretary, Mr John Tierney, called on Irish Life to make a meaningful gesture to settle the dispute.

Mr Tierney said MSF had written to the company to explain why the proposals to settle the dispute had been rejected by a large majority. "One of the main reasons for rejection was a strong sense of grievance over loss of earnings for the last two months because of being locked out by the company," he said.

He said the staff remained available for talks, but were incensed that they were suspended for not accepting changes that the company had not imposed on similar sales staff.

Irish Life spokesman, Mr Ray Gordon said the idea that people should be paid for picketing offices for eight weeks was ludicrous.

He said MSF and the sales staff could not keep on rejecting independent proposals to resolve the dispute.

He said the attitude of the sales force, known as personal financial advisers (PFAs), seemed to be focused on how to prolong the dispute. It seemed to be confrontation for confrontation's sake. "I think that for a Labour Court and a Labour Relations Commission proposal to be dismissed out of hand is bizarre, especially as there has been no constructive approach from the union side on proposals to replace them."

The latest proposals were issued to MSF more than two weeks ago and it subsequently sought clarification on aspects of them from the LRC. Irish Life accepted the proposals which it said would have cost it £2 million.

Mr Tierney said the staff felt discriminated against and there was also a fundamental distrust of the company's proposals for change. It was the fourth reorganisation of the sales force since 1988, he said.

Meanwhile, as the dispute drags on, premiums which are due weekly and monthly on certain insurance products remain uncollected. Irish Life said it had written to all customers affected, saying their cover remained in force while the dispute was on. However, Mr Gordon said the company hoped to collect the arrears when the dispute was resolved.