Siptu warns over trying to relocate semi-State jobs

Siptu has warned the Government of industrial, and possibly legal action, if an attempt is made to "coerce" semi-State employees into relocation under the decentralisation programme.

The union yesterday called for the Government to reverse its decision to include semi-State agencies in decentralisation, stating that only 56 out of 2,500 staff in 16 bodies were willing to move.

Representatives from all 16 agencies will tomorrow picket the offices of Minister of State for Finance Tom Parlon, the Minister responsible for implementing decentralisation, at the Office of Public Works in St Stephen's Green.

Siptu's warning came as Fás workers held a one-day strike at its headquarters in Dublin over proposals to relocate the agency to Birr, Co Offaly. Five hours of talks at the Labour Relations Commission broke down without agreement in the early hours of yesterday morning. Siptu Fás branch organiser Greg Ennis said the management had failed to ensure that decentralisation would be voluntary. The union said management would deny promotion to staff if they refuse to sign up to the decentralisation plan. A further one-day strike at several of the agencies offices is planned for next Tuesday.

The actions of the Department of Finance in forcing through decentralisation was likely to cause other semi-State agencies to resort to the same tactics as Fás, Michael Halpenny, Siptu national industrial secretary said.

Siptu was not opposed to decentralisation on a voluntary basis, he said. "Unfortunately the Government has not been prepared to adopt a voluntary approach."

The Government's stance was likely to trigger widespread industrial unrest, he added.

The employment conditions and circumstances of semi-State employees were different from civil servants who would have the flexibility to move to different departments, and not necessarily be tied to relocating to a particular area, he said.