Driving testers at the Road Safety Authority who are members of the Fórsa trade union are to stage a full one-day work stoppage next Friday, over concerns uninsured vehicles are being presented for driving tests.
It comes after the latest round of conciliation talks at the Workplace Relations Commission today failed to reach a resolution.
The union this evening announced that a full one-day work stoppage, from 8.15am to 5.30pm, will be held next Friday 20 February.
It also said that driving testers will engage in an indefinite industrial action, refusing to conduct a test unless a valid certificate of insurance is produced by the person taking the test.
The union voted in favour of industrial action last month.
It accuses the RSA of failing to ensure that testers are fully and unconditionally covered by the State Claims Agency while carrying out their duties.
Fórsa official Ruairi Creaney said: "Currently, driver testers are not fully covered by the State Claims Agency while carrying out their duties, particularly when conducting tests in uninsured vehicles.
"The absence of access to a national insurance verification system means there is no reliable way to confirm that vehicles presented for tests are properly insured.
"Exposing driver testers to this level of potential risk makes no sense.
"An uninsured vehicle is not a roadworthy vehicle and presents an unacceptable risk to the public. Driver testers are taking this action both in defence public safety, and to ensure their own workplace is safe," he said.
The RSA last month said it noted the outcome of the ballot for industrial action, and said "driver testers are fully indemnified whilst carrying out their duties as public servants".
The authority previously said that it appreciates the concerns of driver testers and has engaged regularly with Fórsa on the matter.
