Shop stewards at the Cadbury plant in Coolock in Dublin have recommended acceptance of proposals aimed at ending the industrial dispute at the site.

A general meeting of Unite and SIPTU members was held earlier today to discuss proposals agreed after negotiations at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC).

It followed a meeting of the joint negotiating committee and the joint shop stewards earlier this week.

With the joint shop stewards recommending acceptance, union members will now be balloted on the proposals between March 20th and 22nd.

Workers at the plant went on 'indefinite strike' earlier this month over the company's decision to outsource a number of jobs.

As part of a restructuring process, Cadbury - now owned by the Swiss group Mondelez International - proposed to outsource 17 jobs in its stores division.

However, workers at the plant returned to work after two days following the proposals put forward at the WRC.

It is understood the WRC plan involves cost-saving measures that do not require out-sourcing.