Decentralisation may trip up pay deal, says Siptu

Siptu president Jack O'Connor has said he could not see the union recommending acceptance of a new national pay deal while the issue of decentralisation of semi-State agencies remained unresolved.

About 200 representatives of various semi-State agencies yesterday demonstrated outside of the offices of Minister of State Tom Parlon, at the Office of Public Works (OPW) in Dublin. Mr Parlon has responsibility for implementing the decentralisation programme.

Siptu officials warned that protests in State agencies over the decentralisation plan could escalate in the weeks ahead.

Following yesterday's strike, staff at the training agency Fás are to hold a further one-day strike next week in protest at head office promotions being restricted to those prepared to commit to moving to Birr, Co Offaly.

Siptu and the trade union Amicus, which also took part in yesterday's demonstration, said that staff at other agencies earmarked for decentralisation had not been told what would happen to them if they decided to stay in Dublin.

Siptu branch organiser Owen Reidy said attempts were being made to compel staff who accepted promotion at Enterprise Ireland to move to Shannon, and those who accepted new contracts at Combat Poverty to move to Monaghan.

Speaking at the protest, Mr O'Connor said staff in the State agencies felt very aggrieved at how they had been treated. He said that, unlike civil servants, they could not transfer to other bodies.

"I do not know whether there will be proposals for a national agreement - all the indications are pessimistic but it is not over yet. However, I would not see us in Siptu being able to put a recommendation for acceptance to members," he said.

Mr O'Connor said that, in the event of proposals for a national agreement being concluded, it would be necessary to address decentralisation and other issues.

Mr Parlon said the dispute between Siptu and Fás management was not a matter for the OPW and he urged the parties to use the existing industrial relations structures.

Mr O'Connor added that the parties to the national pay talks were currently "looking into the abyss".