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Latest Developments on Decentralisation

Decentralisation Update - March 08, 2006

The SIPTU National Delegate Conference held in Cork in October 2005 gave full support to the removal of all non-commercial State agencies from the Government’s decentralisation plan and gave full support to our members' non-co-operation with it. Nevertheless, it is now clear that the Government is pressurising managements in at least some agencies to produce results in time for next year’s election.

Top of the list is FAS, which is not due to voluntarily relocate to Birr until 2009.  This is in the constituency of Finance Minister, Brian Cowen, and PD Junior Minister Tom Parlon - whoh has specific responsibility for overseeing the Government's decentralisation policy.

For months now FAS management has tried to coerce head office staff by making relocation a condition for promotional positions, while new recruits are required to accept relocation as a condition of employment. On February 3, 2006, the Labour Court ruled that the heavy handed tactics being adopted by FAS were in breach of internal consultation procedures. It said both sides should return to the Decentralisation Implementation Committee to seek a common approach to decentralisation, as required by Government policy.  However, despite the clear ruling of the Labour Court, FAS management is continuing to use these disputed contracts.  At the time of writing our FAS members are balloting to protect themselves against such unilateral action by management in breach of existing agreements and the Labour Court ruling.

Meanwhile BIM has acquired a site in Clonakilty, West Cork, for the relocation of head office and the Arts Council has secured a building in Kilkenny. Further it seems that management of Failte Ireland has attempted to prepare the ground for decentralisation by trying to re-locate all staff in one office as a preliminary move. Given developments in FAS it is clear that Minister of State, Tom Parlon, and the Department of Finance will try to pick off each agency in turn.

At a national meeting of SIPTU shop stewards and officials on Thursday, February 23, it was decided to adopt a united strategy on decentralisation. A campaign group was elected to lobby political parties and raise public awareness of the issues involved. Section meetings are to be held  in every agency to review the situation locally.

SIPTU’s position was made crystal clear at the meeting:

  • SIPTU’s national policy as decided at the 2005 National Delegate Conference is to campaign forcefully for the removal of non-commercial State agencies from the plan and to support our members non-co-operation.
  • Decentralisation must be on a voluntary basis. SIPTU members in State agencies are not civil servants. Their contract of employment means they cannot be moved around the country at will.
  • The Union will defend any member, or group, pressurised into accepting new contracts requiring them to relocate.
  • Management in each agency must discuss the process through the proper procedures. Where management refuses to do so, as in FAS, then SIPTU reserves the right to take industrial action
  • We have pointed out to the Department of Finance that there are also employment law issues to be considered if the Government proceed on a non-voluntary basis.

If FÁS management is allowed to accelerate the decentralisation timetable to accommodate its political masters this will be taken as a green light to speed things up everywhere. SIPTU is seeking an urgent meeting with the Department of Finance and the Decentralisation Implementation Committee to clarify that the official side is still committed to the voluntary process and consultative procedures laid down in the Government’s own policy on decentralisation. Meanwhile we intend consulting all members to agree a united strategy that will maximise our opposition to the current attempts to impose decentralisation, regardless of the human consequences, simply to promote a few Ministerial careers.  



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