Forsa’s local government division is preparing to ballot almost 9,000 members in an ongoing dispute over the introduction of a job evaluation scheme for workers in the sector. Local government employers have refused to attend a reconvened Labour Court hearing on the matter.

Head of division Peter Nolan described the refusal as a “kick in the teeth” for workers who stepped up to the plate during the recession.

“We lost nearly a third of the workforce during the collapse, and we are satisfied that many workers ended up doing higher grade work,” he said.