Fás staff plan further protest over relocation

A communications blackout by Siptu members in Fás is to be repeated next week in a continuing row over decentralisation. Behind-the-scenes moves to resolve the dispute were under way yesterday, however, with the assistance of a third-party mediator.

Fás, the State training and jobs agency, is due to relocate to Birr, Co Offaly, in 2009 under the Government's decentralisation programme.

Siptu members are engaged in industrial action over the agency's policy of restricting head office promotions to those who commit to relocating to Birr. New recruits to Fás head office must also sign up for decentralisation.

The agency's monthly board meeting, scheduled for last Wednesday, was cancelled in the face of a threat by Siptu members to picket it.

Fás chairman Peter McLoone is general secretary of Impact, another union which has serious concerns about decentralisation.

Siptu Fás branch organiser Greg Ennis said yesterday the communications blackout organised by the union's members on Tuesday had been "very successful", and would be repeated next Thursday from 8am to 1pm. Tuesday's action involved a half-day ban by head office staff on answering phones or dealing with any other forms of communication.