Fórsa’s South Dublin County Council branch is going to consult members on the preparation of a ballot on industrial action, in a dispute related to the outsourcing of legal services associated with rate collection. 

SDCC has refused to engage in a meaningful way on the long running issue, which has escalated in recent weeks.

The outsourcing of legal services began in 2019 to clear a backlog for a two-year period. Thereafter management extended the contract without consultation.  

Fórsa has for three years, to no avail, engaged in good faith to try to secure agreement with management to establish correct staffing resources within the Legal Department to allow the work to return in-house.

It is only in recent months that management have offered their rationale for their decision, in the form of a legal opinion which the union does not accept. 

Fórsa has sought to resolve this issue in every way possible, including through the Local Authority National Council (LANC) and WRC conciliation. 

Maura Cahalan, Fórsa official said: “Long term outsourcing without consultation amounts to privatisation by stealth. We note management have sought a six-week consultation process; however, our concern is that their position will not change and as such members are considering all options available to them.”

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