An Bord Pleanála management has paused plans to outsource corporate governance support roles after Fórsa intervened.

In a letter to union official Ian McDonnell, the planning authority said it would take no further action at this time on what he described as “unilateral outsourcing of our members’ work.”

Earlier, Ian had told management that the union would refer the dispute to the Workplace Relations Commission. Fórsa had first raised the issue in June, but only received management’s response in mid-September.

The union had complained of moves to procure external corporate governance support services, which Ian said was unacceptable.

“Our members currently undertake the duties and responsibilities associated with the role that was advertised. So, if An Bord Pleanála proceeded with this appointment, it would be a unilateral outsourcing of our members’ work. This breaches both local and national agreements,” he said.

The union is keeping the situation under review as management’s response suggested it has yet to take a firm decision on how it intends to proceed.