Some interesting issues arise from Routecheckers post that no one has picked up on.
1) From a management perspective:
There is a wealth of highly qualified and state licenced flight dispatchers in Portugal all (by requirement) good English speakers that could work in your department for very good rates. No need to consider expensive training schemes for your ops officers in the USA (FAA Dispatcher licence). It's all here for you in Europe.
2) From an Ops Officer perspective:
Potentially your jobs are at threat. Simple as that. Or forget the FAA licence go to Lisbon and get a Portugese one. Again it's not recognised by JAR but it may help you get a job. Recognise that your job security has potentially been sidelined by the SRG and its refusal to sanction any formal training or licence for your job.
3) From the perspective of all of you:
Less of this
and more of this
. Speak to your FOI now and together we can get the ball rolling