Both sides in the Dublin Bus pay dispute will attend Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) talks today.

The National Bus and Rail Union (NBRU), SIPTU and Unite have all said they will be attending today's talks.

The unions say postponing industrial action will only be considered if the company is willing to engage in meaningful discussions.

Yesterday Dublin Bus confirmed it will be attending the talks "without preconditions".

Strike are planned for Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday of this week, with Dublin Bus due to end services from 9pm tonight ahead of the latest round of work stoppages.

Further work stoppages are also scheduled for the following dates in October: Wednesday 5th, Friday 7th, Monday 10th, Wednesday 12th, Friday 14th, Tuesday 18th, Wednesday 19th, Monday 24th, Wednesday 26th and Saturday 29th.

SIPTU Transport Division Organiser, Owen Reidy, said: “We understand that the purpose of this initial meeting is to see whether there is the basis for a meaningful negotiation between the parties.

"Any decision as to whether the pending strike action by our members on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week goes ahead, or is cancelled, will be made by the union committee based on the progress, or otherwise, at [the] initial meeting."

Dermot O'Leary of the NBRU added: "It won't be easy - it will be very, very difficult. People need to understand that.

"Getting into the WRC is the first stage of the process, that's not the end all and be all. You have to have something on the table before our members can consider it."