About 70 staff at Ulster Bank - who are part of SIPTU - have accused the bank of discrimination, claiming that they have been excluded from receiving a special Dublin allowance worth £2,000 (€2,540).

The allowance was introduced in May for bank staff who are members of the Irish Bank Officials Association working in the Dublin region to offset the high cost of living.

SIPTU has now written to the bank demanding the payment for its members and is seeking a Labour Court hearing on the matter and threatening industrial action.

A spokesman for Ulster Bank said yesterday the bank negotiates terms and conditions with different categories of staff.

"The Dublin allowance was negotiated with the IBOA, owing to particular circumstances related to that group of staff."