The jobs will be transferred to Inverness

The Public and Commercial Services Union plans to launch its legal action this week over the move from Edinburgh to Inverness.

The SNH board has said that it will only move from the current headquarters if it is formally ordered to do so by the Scottish Executive.

The union said it would take action against SNH as the employer, but stressed that it blames the executive for the situation.

Negotiations officer Albie O'Neill said papers would be lodged with the employment tribunal office in Edinburgh.

The Public and Commercial Services Union alleges that employment law is being breached.

Consult staff

"The fact is that there will be compulsory redundancies and under the terms of the employment legislation there is supposed to be meaningful consultation, including ways to avoid it and reasons for such a decision," he said.

"The Scottish Executive promised that in any relocation exercise they would consult with staff and unions and take account of their views."

Mr O'Neill said staff and unions had not been properly consulted on the redundancies which he believed would follow the relocation.

The executive is not aware of any basis upon which such an action against it could proceed Scottish Executive spokeswoman

However, a spokeswoman for the executive said no redundancies had yet been announced.

She said ministers were doing all they could to avoid job losses.

And she added: "The executive is not aware of any basis upon which such an action against it could proceed."

At present, about 270 SNH staff work from its premises in Edinburgh.

The executive wants them to move to Inverness as part of its policy of dispersing public sector jobs.

Ordered to move

Staff are concerned they could lose their jobs if they refuse to leave Edinburgh.

In a leaked letter, Environment Minister Ross Finnie failed to rule out compulsory redundancies for staff.

Last week the SNH board said it would have to be ordered to move to Inverness by the executive.