The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern condemned the actions of Irish Ferries management as a retrograde step tonight as union chiefs vowed to hold an emergency meeting on the escalating dispute.
As the stand-offs between management and workers on board two ferries continued, Mr Ahern launched a strong criticism on the way the company had handled the redundancy dispute.
"This is a retrograde step by them, this is not in line with Irish industrial relations, they are trying to turn back the clock, they should still think about it, about everything that they have done in their handling of this. I fundamentally and totally disagree with [it]," he said.
Speaking on RTÉ television this evening, Ictu general secretary David Begg said he deplored the actions of the company. "To date, this company has proved utterly contemptuous of all norms of decency. They have refused to engage with representative and democratic bodies".
"They cannot be allowed to drag us all to the bottom in the simple pursuit of profit. I have the sense that public opinion is very much against the company. Can any company depending on the goodwill of the Irish people afford to offend the Irish people the way this company has?" he concluded.
Meanwhile, Ictu is to hold a meeting on Tuesday morning to discuss the ongoing dispute
The meeting is being arranged following Siptu president Jack O'Connor's call to hold rallies nationwide next Friday, December 2nd, to support Irish Ferries workers.
Mr O'Connor said the dispute represented a defining moment for workers, employers, government and every citizen about the type of society in which they wished to live.
"It is a moment which challenges everyone, on all sides, to declare on the side of decency, social dialogue and constructive engagement, or on the side of thuggery, brutality and the law of the jungle," he said.
A number of staff members remain barricaded in the control rooms of both the Isle of Inishmoreat Pembroke and the Ulyssesat Holyhead following an attempt by management to replace crews with cheaper agency staff.
Irish Ferries formally cancelled all sailings this afternoon. It is understood that there has been informal contact between both sides to resolve the stand-off.
Additional sailings on Irish Ferries routes are being provided by other ferry companies to accommodate freight held up by the stand-off.
The Isle of Inishmore's chief electrical officer, Gary Jones, who is one of those onboard, said the workers were looking to protect their jobs.
"If Irish Ferries get away with this, it opens the door for every company in Ireland when it means that an Irish job is no longer safe because any company, if they wish, could turn around and say, `right, from now on, you fellows can leave and we're going to bring cheap labour in from anywhere else'.
"We've said we're willing to sail if they remove the security people they've brought on board and the officers they've brought on board," he told RTÉ.
Employers' group Ibec expressed its regret this morning that the situation at Irish Ferries had escalated. They said one dispute should not decide the future of Social Partnership.
Labour party leader Pat Rabbitte condemned the actions of Irish Ferries management in a letter to the Taoiseach.
"The tactics adopted by Irish Ferries management, including an SAS-type attempted takeover of two vessels in ports in Wales is something we might have expected to see in the early part of the last century, but surely have no role to play in a modern industrial relations regime", it said.
Additional reporting: PA