Fórsa has accused the Land Development Agency of refusing to recognise the trade union.
In an address to its Services & Enterprises Divisional Conference in Co Galway, Fórsa National Secretary Katie Morgan said the LDA had outdated ideas about trade union representation.
She told delegates that despite the LDA being a commercial state body in receipt of substantial public funds, it refuses to allow union representatives on the premises.
“It is shameful that Fórsa members employed by the LDA are currently forced to meet with union representatives off-site, because the employer refuses us entry,” Ms Morgan said.
“No employer in this country should have a veto on union recognition.
“LDA staff should not be denied their right to organise. In a situation where an employer is in receipt of substantial public funds, the denial of that right is especially problematic,” she added.
The Fórsa National Secretary said it was unacceptable that the door to the chief executive of the LDA remains closed, and that it will continue to press for union recognition.
A spokesperson for the Land Development Agency said the LDA has a highly positive and collaborative relationship with its staff, and that are no industrial relations issues at the LDA, nor have any staff indicated any such issues.
“Senior LDA executives had a respectful meeting with senior Fórsa representatives, where it outlined that the LDA fully respects the legal right of any employee to join a union,” the LDA said.
“Following this meeting, Fórsa requested the LDA to enter a bespoke agreement which is not required by any law or regulation.”
“This agreement stipulated, among other things, that the LDA would solely recognise Fórsa as the trade union for LDA staff, and the LDA would deduct Fórsa union subscriptions directly from staff salaries.”
“As signing up to such an agreement is not required by any law and would not benefit its current collaborative working relationship with staff, the LDA respectfully declined to enter the agreement and continues to engage directly with its staff in a positive and collaborative way,” the spokesperson added.
