A threatened strike by secretaries employed by Fine Gael is likely to be averted after the party decided yesterday to refer the issues involved to the Labour Relations Commission.
The secretaries, members of Siptu, are to meet today to decide whether to proceed with a ballot for industrial action, in a dispute over promotional opportunities.
A decision to go on strike would be a significant embarrassment for the party as it prepares to hold its ardfheis this weekend in Dublin.
More than 20 secretaries are involved, some employed by Fine Gael members of the Oireachtas, and others directly by the party.
The dispute has its origins in the creation of up to 200 posts at the new grade of parliamentary assistant in 2004.
Existing Dáil secretaries complained at the time that many of the new jobs were being filled by party activists, while the secretaries themselves were required to do the same work, but on lower levels of pay.
A compromise formula was agreed which involved the creation of a number of promotional posts for which the existing secretaries could compete.
Siptu official Gerry Flanagan said Fine Gael had initially refused to attend the LRC for talks, and had subsequently attached unacceptable conditions to the way promotions would be implemented.
