An independent facilitator has supported Fόrsa’s contention that Dublin City Council changes to its insurance claims section constituted outsourcing, and were therefore a breach of the Public Service Stability Agreement (PSSA).

The union’s Dublin City branch is now engaging with council management regarding the recommendations of the independent facilitator, who was appointed on foot of a Workplace Relations Commission conciliation session.

The PSSA and earlier agreements include strong protections that limit employers’ ability to outsource public services. It commits management to consultation procedures and strict independent mechanisms to deal with disputes.

Crucially, the agreement also stops management from including labour costs in evaluations of potential outsourcing, which prevents a ‘race to the bottom’ on pay and working conditions.