A PLANNED half-day strike at about 50 branches of FBD Insurance today has been averted.

Talks between the company and the trade union Unite aimed at resolving a row over maternity pay will take place at the Labour Relations Commission next Thursday.

In a statement last night Unite said both sides were "hopeful of a resolution". The union had earlier said that FBD Insurance would effectively be shut down today, with staff at its entire branch network throughout Ireland placing pickets from 12.30pm at 50 locations in protest at the company's refusal to implement a Labour Court ruling on maternity pay.

"Following two years of attempted negotiation, the Labour Court ruled in October 2007 that the company should agree improved maternity benefits for the company's predominantly female workforce. The court recommended that the company should agree to pay 100 per cent of pay less statutory maternity pay and social welfare benefits for a period of 26 weeks, and that staff should be eligible after one year's service," the union stated.

Unite said that the company, which employs over 800 staff, had failed to engage in talks to implement the ruling.

The company did not comment yesterday.