Fórsa members at Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin) have secured agreement at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC), resolving a dispute over management’s handling of senior appointments. 

The dispute arose after the university proceeded with external recruitment for three interim senior posts prior to engaging with Fórsa or notifying internal staff. Professional, Management and Support Staff (PMSS) in TU Dublin subsequently backed a ballot for industrial action, with 88.1% in favour of action up to and including strike action.

At a conciliation conference on Tuesday 23rd September, Fórsa secured a number of key commitments, including: 

• A timely and transparent consultation process with full visibility of relevant information. 
• Ongoing dialogue between the university’s Chief Operations Officer and Fórsa, including regular updates on the Financial Recovery Plan (FRP). 
• Recruitment for the Chief Information Officer and Chief Operations Officer posts to proceed through the agreed confined competition process, moving externally only if internal competitions are unsuccessful. Recruitment will commence in the final quarter of 2025 (October-December). 
• The permanent Principal Officer post to proceed to external open competition, with “experience in higher education” included in the desirable criteria. 
• Clarification from the university on the meaning of “managing senior fully qualified finance staff” included in the job specification. 

The union confirmed that, on the basis of this agreement, the potential industrial action has been withdrawn. 

Fórsa official Barbara Anderson welcomed the outcome: “This agreement restores the principles of consultation and fair process that our members insisted upon. The commitments secured through the WRC provide reassurance on recruitment processes and ensure our members will be fully engaged and consulted in future developments.” 

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