19/01/2010

GRA Withdraw Threat Of Action After Questionnaire

The Garda Representative Association have withdrawn their threat of taking industrial action over pay and conditions.

The association had put the suggestion of industrial action to its members after sending questionnaires to 11,600 gardaí seeking their opinion on what action to take if other unions go on strike over pay.

Members of the Gardaí are angry that due to stipulations in their contract, they have restricted capabilities to take strike action under the law.

Speakig today on the dissatisfaction of Gardaí members, GRA General Secretary PJ Stone said: "Members have had their pay reduced by five successive measures in the past year, causing unprecedented levels of anger and despair. Our members are working harder than ever to face down increasing crime with reduced garda numbers."

The GRA announced last month that it would ballot its members on industrial action, but today it published the questionnaire.

The association is asking gardaí what they would do if the Irish Congress of Trades Unions takes industrial action.

They have four options to choose from: do nothing, do something just short of withdrawal of service, withdraw service or suggest something else.

However, Garda Commissioner Fachtna Murphy has already warned that gardaí could face civil and criminal action if they withdraw their service.

This morning, the force's newsletter Gardaí Review also entered the debate by printing an article saying that as police officers, the members of An Garda Síochána are denied similar rights to their continental colleagues.

"The Garda Representative Association are denied the right to negotiate directly with our employer; instead we depend on the Irish congress of trade unions to negotiate our pay and yet we are not entitled to become an affiliate. This situation would not be tolerated by any other police force," the article read.

It added: "The irony is not lost on members of An Garda Síochána who are asked to integrate into a larger Europe; the Lisbon Treaty promised that workers' rights would be protected and defended."

(DW/GK)


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