Hundreds of Bord na Móna workers have begun a two-day strike in an ongoing dispute over a pay increase.
This stoppage today and tomorrow follows a one-day strike earlier this month.
Management and the group of unions at the semi-state company, which includes Unite, Siptu and TEEU, remain in contact today in efforts to resolve the dispute.
The unions have said a 3.5 per cent pay increase on offer from the company is not on the terms agreed at the Labour Court.
The company had offered to pay the 3.5 per cent in two phases, as well as a lump sum of €1,000 to each worker. But the unions have insisted that the increases be reckonable for pension purposes.
Power stations are not affected by the strike. A spokesman for Bord na Móna said contingency plans had been put in place and appeared to be working well.
However, workers are picketing supply depots and peat briquette production will be affected by the stoppage.
The company said in a statement is was "disappointed" by the current strike action. It said an agreement had been reached on April 4th after "long and detailed negotiations addressing all the issues of contention".
It was satisfied that the agreement represented "a fair and reasonable accommodation of the interests of all parties".
The company said it had been contacted by the group of unions last Friday and they had stated they were available for discussions. Bord na Móna had restated its position that it was not possible to improve the proposal reached on April 4th.
However, the company said it was willing to meet directly with the group of unions or with the assistance of a third party such as the LRC "to address any and all issues of clarification that would help to resolve the dispute".
It received a written response from the unions yesterday, "wherein they reiterated their intention to seek improvements to the proposal".
"The company notes however that the Group of Unions has made clear their willingness to attend any talks without pre-conditions," the statement said.
The company said it had implemented contingency plans wheich were working well to minimise the amount of disruption experienced by customers.
"Regardless of the success of our plans we would like to thank our customers for their patience and apologise for any inconvenience today’s stoppage has caused them."
Siptu organiser Oliver McDonagh said tomorrow's stoppage would go ahead as planned. The unions remained available for talks with the company, he said.
"We have made it known we are available for discussions from day one."