Tesco workers and the company have agreed to return to talks today at the Workplace Relations Commission.

The move comes after an all-out strike at 70 Tesco stores yesterday was called off.

The row centres on planned changes to pay and rosters which will affect around 300 long-serving staff who are on pre-1996 contracts. The trade union Mandate represents the workers.

Tesco employs around 14,000 workers across 140 stores in the Republic of Ireland.

Robert Troy from Fianna Fáil said it was vital for both sides to engage in talks.

He said: “It’s positive to see mediation underway. I would hope Tesco would take the real and genuine concerns of the staff on board, that both parties would engage fully and frankly and that a positive outcome can be achieved.”