Labour Court recommends talks on Fás decentralisation dispute

The Labour Court found that Fás breached its consultation procedure in a dispute with Services Industrial Professional Technical Union over whether staff promoted to Head Office could be required to relocate to Birr, Co Offaly. In a recommendation dated 3 February 2006, it sent the matter back for further discussions at the appropriate central body. The union said relocation should be voluntary and that the requirement had discouraged applications for promotion. Fás said its policy applied to new or promoted staff who knew their posts might move. The Court cited the Government policy of voluntary decentralisation when recommending talks aimed at a long-term solution.