The Irish Congress of Trade Unions is meeting today to consider its position for negotiations on a new national pay deal.
ICTU is expected to agree to enter the talks and to seek pay increases and improved pensions, as well as better protection for agency workers.
They will have a tough time securing such measures, however, as employers' groups and the Government have already been talking down the prospect of pay rises.
They say that pay demands could harm Ireland's competitiveness at a time of slowing economic activity.