Public sector union Impact is threatening to withdraw co-operation from the Government's decentralisation programme.
Impact national secretary Louise O'Donnell
The union says the Minister of State responsible for the plan to decentralise up to 10,000 civil service and public sector workers has reneged on commitments about job security and career prospects given to staff at the Office of Public Works (OPW).
Impact national secretary Louise O'Donnell said specialist staff, such as architects and engineers, were assured that if they chose not to relocate to Trim, Co Meath, they would continue to do their existing work or be given other appropriate work within the OPW.
Ms O'Donnell said the assurances were given at a general staff meeting in May but that subsequent letter from the Minister of State Tom Parlon made no mention of the understanding. The letter instead said posts outside the OPW would be provided.
The union had attempted to clarify the position without success and now believes the Minister is reneging.
"Specialists see their colleagues in administrative grades making progress on lots of issues . . . yet real threats to their jobs and careers have yet to be dealt with and, when progress is made, it is quickly withdrawn," Ms O'Donnell said.
Members have been "put in an impossible position" because they are being asked "to co-operate with a programme that could leave them without careers or even useful work," she added.
A special meeting of the Impact decentralisation sub-committee has been called for September 7th where consideration will be given to withdrawing co-operation with the entire process.
Impact represents around 1,200 workers due to be decentralised, but only 15 per cent have opted to relocate.
Most of their affected members are specialists servicing many departments, and Ms O'Donnell said the union's withdrawal from the process would be seriously affect the decentralisation plan.
"This is the first test of the Government's claim that decentralisation is voluntary and won't disadvantage staff," Ms O'Donnell said.
Mandate, the union representing 2,000 workers at Roches Stores, has reached agreement with the company over its sale to Debenhams.
The agreement, reached late last night at the Labour Relations Commission, provides for loyalty payments to staff, a payment of €14.8 million into the pension fund to make up the existing shortfall. It also protects staff's terms and conditions after the takeover.
Mandate national official Linda Tanham said: "The deal also ensures that the contribution of workers to the success of the company is recognised by way of a loyalty payment scheme up to a maximum payment of €6,000.
Staff being made redundant will receive six weeks' pay per pay per year of service for the first eight years of service and five weeks' for the remainder, inclusive of statutory redundancy, under the terms of the deal.