Behind-the-scenes moves to resolve the dispute at Fás over decentralisation are to continue over the weekend with the aim of averting a full-day stoppage on Tuesday.
Head office staff at the State training and jobs agency picketed Fás offices for five hours yesterday in protest at its decentralisation policies.
Fás is due to relocate from Dublin to Birr, Co Offaly, in 2009 as part of the Government's decentralisation programme.
Staff have expressed anger that head office promotions are being restricted to those who are prepared to commit to moving to Birr. Their union, Siptu, has organised a campaign of industrial action in response, which is due to escalate on Tuesday into a full one-day strike.
The Labour Relations Commission has been in contact with management and the union, as well as the Department of Finance. Informal exchanges are due to continue in the coming days and management is understood to be optimistic that a resolution can be found in time to stop Tuesday's strike. A Fás spokesman said yesterday's action had caused "limited disruption".
The Government plans to move 10,300 public servants to over 50 locations throughout the State under its decentralisation programme, announced in the 2003 budget. Siptu is campaigning to have non-commercial State agencies removed from the programme and has not ruled out industrial action elsewhere.
