Conciliation talks aimed at ending a long running dispute at Bord na Mona are heading to the Labour Relations Commission today.

Unions are accusing the company of refusing to pay wage increases of 3.5 percent, which they've been seeking since 2009.

They also say Bord na Mona is trying to reduce staff numbers and change workers conditions of employment to achieve spending cuts of 23.3 million euro.

John Regan is the secretary of the Bord na Mona group of unions. Earlier this month, he told the Examiner: “Over the 75 years of this semi-state company’s existence, many organisational changes have been successfully introduced by management engaging fully with workers and their representatives."

“That management has now adopted a draconian approach to negotiations with workers is extremely unhelpful.”