IRISH Life management and the MSF union representing sales staff will meet this afternoon for the first time since the company suspended 320 sales staff. The staff were suspended for refusing to cooperate with the implementation of a Labour Court recommendation on changes in work practices.

The meeting will not take place at company headquarters because union members will not pass pickets placed on the premises following the suspensions.

A company spokesman said the meeting would "explore the arguments on both sides to try to progress the matter". A union spokesman said the meeting was "to exchange points of view".

It is unlikely that agreement to end the impasse between the company and the sales staff will be reached at the meeting.

Z Sources said it would be a preliminary meeting to try to establish some grounds to re-open discussions on the changes sought by the company.

Meanwhile, Irish Life and the SIPTU union, which represents about 40 sales staff, have agreed to go to the Labour Relations Commission to discuss the proposed changes in work practices. The SIPTU members are still at work in Irish Life and the meeting at the Labour Relation Commission is expected to take place next week.