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07/12/2009
Gardaí To Ballot For Possible Strike
Despite gardaí being banned from taking industrial action, officers are planning a massive strike - and are accepting the risk of the possible consequences.
The Garda Representative Association (GRA) is to ballot its members for strike action over planned pay cuts.
Talks between public sector unions and the Government dramatically collapsed on Friday, when officials said they would press ahead with proposed wage reductions estimated to result in upwards of €1.3 billion in cut-backs.
These cutbacks would meant Garda pay 'going back' nearly 15 years.
Members would be asked in the ballot in the next two weeks whether they would join a possible mass public-sector walk out over the planned cuts to pay and pensions.
PJ Stone, GRA General Secretary, admitted they had not taken legal advice about the move, organised by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, which may involve around 12,000 members (in a force of 14,500).
Under the Garda Síochána Act 2005, officers are not allowed to engage in industrial action and there are serious penalties like a €50,000 fine, five years in jail or both.
The union boss said that the State cannot continue to use the law to deny gardaí the right to engage in industrial action.
He said that, in other countries, police forces are able to negotiate on pay if they feel hurt, disillusioned or disappointed because nobody has thought about their position.
The GRA chief said gardai felt "valueless and worthless" because they are not being given credit for their work.
The last mass protest by gardaí, the 'Blue Fy', was 11 years ago: then, they avoided the ban on strike action by all phoning in sick on the same day.
Mr Stone said some people had seen it as a "dishonest action" but, in this case, it is "clear and honest" because they had not been given a place at the negotiating table during the talks.
Even if most of the members voted in favour of withdrawing their labour, there will not be a total withdrawal of policing.
"We would be conscious that a level of cover would have to be provided if the answer to the ballot is yes," Stone added.
The ballot would take place within the next fortnight.
(CL/BMcc)
The Garda Representative Association (GRA) is to ballot its members for strike action over planned pay cuts.
Talks between public sector unions and the Government dramatically collapsed on Friday, when officials said they would press ahead with proposed wage reductions estimated to result in upwards of €1.3 billion in cut-backs.
These cutbacks would meant Garda pay 'going back' nearly 15 years.
Members would be asked in the ballot in the next two weeks whether they would join a possible mass public-sector walk out over the planned cuts to pay and pensions.
PJ Stone, GRA General Secretary, admitted they had not taken legal advice about the move, organised by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, which may involve around 12,000 members (in a force of 14,500).
Under the Garda Síochána Act 2005, officers are not allowed to engage in industrial action and there are serious penalties like a €50,000 fine, five years in jail or both.
The union boss said that the State cannot continue to use the law to deny gardaí the right to engage in industrial action.
He said that, in other countries, police forces are able to negotiate on pay if they feel hurt, disillusioned or disappointed because nobody has thought about their position.
The GRA chief said gardai felt "valueless and worthless" because they are not being given credit for their work.
The last mass protest by gardaí, the 'Blue Fy', was 11 years ago: then, they avoided the ban on strike action by all phoning in sick on the same day.
Mr Stone said some people had seen it as a "dishonest action" but, in this case, it is "clear and honest" because they had not been given a place at the negotiating table during the talks.
Even if most of the members voted in favour of withdrawing their labour, there will not be a total withdrawal of policing.
"We would be conscious that a level of cover would have to be provided if the answer to the ballot is yes," Stone added.
The ballot would take place within the next fortnight.
(CL/BMcc)
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