Talks at the Labour Relations Commission broke up this evening without any sign of a resolution to the dispute Fás over decentralisation.
There was disruption at six Fás offices and training centres over claims that staff are being forced to relocate to Birr, Co Offaly by 2009.
Fás this morning advised trainees attending courses at Baldoyle, Loughlinstown and Tallaght to stay away until after the pickets were removed at 11.30am.
Siptu members at the state training and employment agency were also protesting outside Fás headquarters on Baggot Street.
Workers say promotional opportunities are being linked to relocation. The Labour Court has already said this should not happen but Siptu maintains management is continuing to do so.
Siptu is excepted to step up its action following today's failure to map a way forward. Earlier, a Siptu spokesman said the protests would move nationwide in coming weeks.
Labour Party spokesperson on finance, Joan Burton, said the dispute was symptomatic of the problems facing the Government's decentralisation programme.
"The simple message is that while decentralisation may have been an attractive project for certain Government Departments and bodies, for a number of specialised agencies staff believe they need to remain in Dublin in order to carry-out their work," she said.
"I am calling on the Minister for Finance Brian Cowen to review decentralisation plans for specialised state agencies to ensure we do not enter a period of further disputes from those hostile to moving from Dublin."