The IMPACT trade union is to take 93 legal cases against the State for alleged discrimination against temporary workers.
The union walked out of talks with the Department of Finance today after what it said was "months of civil service foot-dragging" on new laws to protect such employees.
In a statement, the union said it will now press ahead with legal cases against the State. It claims the Protection of Employees (Fixed Time Workers) Act, which came into force almost a year ago, has yet to be implemented in the civil service.
IMPACT official Mr Peter Nolan said: "The law gives clear legal protection to temporary workers, who must now be treated the same as permanent staff unless there are "objective reasons" for different pay and conditions. Yet the civil service is continuing to discriminate on basic standards like pay, pensions, and entitlement to promotion."
Mr Nolan said that, despite repeated requests since the law came into
effect last July, today's meeting was the first time management would meet unions on the issue.
He said that at the meeting, management said it had referred the matter to the Attorney General, but would not say when, or on what grounds the referral was made.
Some 93 legal cases, which are already prepared, will now be taken against the State, IMPACT said.
"What message does it send to employers if the civil service refuses to implement workplace protections that have been endorsed by the European Union and Dáil Eireann?" Mr Nolan added.
He said the first of test case is expected to come before the Rights Commissioner shortly.