THERE is a renewed danger of industrial action at FAS which could affect training courses for more than 70,000 people, most of whom are unemployed.
Although a mediation panel put forward improved terms this week, the SIPTU branch committee at FAS unanimously recommended their rejection.
The committee's reaction has caused surprise, since earlier this year it let much poorer terms go to ballot with no recommendation. FAS has been seeking increased productivity and flexibility from its 2,000 staff to improve efficiency.
The dispute affects FAS at a critical time. The Minister for Enterprise and Employment, Mr Bruton, is preparing a White Paper on training and the Irish Business and Employers Confederation is lobbying to have some FAS resources diverted into the private sector.
The panel, chaired by a former ICTU president, Mr Phil Flynn, has mediated between SIPTU and FAS management for some months. Its report, presented to both sides earlier this week, has secured significant concessions for the union.
Under the new terms, FAS employees will get increases of around 7 per cent, and some senior instructors will receive up to 28 per cent. Staff will receive back money worth up to £2,600 if they accept the deal.
SIPTU has also won major concessions on new instructor trainee ratios, which will be 25 per cent lower on some training courses.
FAS welcomed the settlement proposals and has urged staff to accept them. But a SIPTU branch secretary, Mr Paddy Trehy, said several small, additional concessions would have made them far more acceptable.
The insistence by FAS management that some staff transfer from a 4 1/2 day week to a five day week was a problem. Another was a refusal to allow staff to retain their existing pay and working conditions in cases where they were transferred, he said.
If the proposals are rejected industrial action could follow early in the new year.