Teagasc, the agriculture and food development authority, is facing opposition from many of its headquarters staff over plans to transfer them from Dublin to either Carlow or Athenry, Co Galway.
In February, the board of Teagasc accepted a cost-cutting plan drawn up by management which involved selling the headquarters building in Ballsbridge, Dublin, and relocating staff.
The plan involves transferring more than 70 staff from Dublin to the organisation's National Tillage Centre at Oak Park, Carlow. The remaining 30 personnel, who are attached to the Rural Economy Research Centre in the Dublin headquarters, are to be relocated to Mellows College, Athenry, Co Galway.
The relocation plan has angered many of the Dublin-based personnel. One member of staff commented: "The day when senior personnel can be transferred up and down the place like a country curate are over. There is a lot of opposition to being moved around in this way at a time when there is much insecurity in the organisation and when such a move does not seem to make any sense.
"Management have said that there will be no compulsory transfer, but when the building is being sold over our heads, that is compulsion."
While the management has said that it will attempt to lease back the building for two years when the sale is finalised, it is planned to implement the first staff transfers by early autumn.
In an attempt to defuse the situation, management has told the main unions involved - IMPACT, MSF and SIPTU - that it might be possible to transfer some staff to the Kinsealy Research Centre in north Co Dublin.
While the board has already sanctioned the sale of the head office, the management is awaiting Government permission to sell the building.
The Teagasc plan to slim down the organisation envisages the sale of its centres in Clonroche, Co Wexford; Lullymore, Co Kildare; Ballinamore, Co Leirim, and Knockbeg, Co Carlow.
The authority has also decided to relocate staff and services from 10 advisory offices. The offices identified for closure are at Bailieborough, Co Cavan; Loughrea, Co Galway; Manorhamilton, Co Leitrim, Boyle, Co Roscommon; Tullow, Co Carlow; Cork city; Corduff, Co Dublin, Mullinavat, Co Kilkenny; Gorey, Co Wexford; and Wicklow town.