Gardaí threaten more action against cuts

GARDAÍ have threatened a major escalation in their “work to rule” campaign against wage cuts of over 5% which are expected to be announced in Wednesday’s budget.

The Garda Representative Association (GRA) will outline the actions they are willing to take in opposition to the Government cuts at a press conference in Dublin this morning.

It is illegal for Gardaí to strike but among the measures expected to be proposed in what the GRA have termed “a significant announcement” is a withdrawal from some overtime work as well as a refusal to implement so-called discretionary fines and penalties.

Gardaí are also expected to be asked not to use personal equipment such as laptops and mobile phones for official purposes.

The Garda action could result in major disruption to the enforcement of traffic laws and the completion of court cases.

Over 40% of serving gardaí have under five years’ service in the force and earn under €40,000 in basic pay.

A particular issue for the GRA is the large number of young gardaí who are having difficulties paying mortgages.

If a garda defaults on debts they must report this and submit to disciplinary procedures.

If the proposed wage cuts are introduced the GRA fears large numbers of gardaí could default on mortgages and lose their employment as well as properties.

This afternoon the public services committee of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) is to meet to discuss strategy following the collapse of talks with the Government in what ICTU general secretary David Begg said was a “huge lost opportunity for the country”.

He said under the unpaid leave proposals put forward by unions, public sector workers would have agreed to take 12 days’ unpaid leave next year and would then later come up with a separate proposal to cover 2011.

Mr Begg said what was discussed were “lay-offs” for 12 days, adding these operated in the private sector and not “a remarkable, unknown concept being brought to the talks”.

The proposals were dismissed by the Government as not providing the €1.3 billion cuts they wanted, Mr Begg’s claims it was agreed the measure would have saved over €900m with other areas utilised to make up he shortfall.

Speaking on RTÉ yesterday IMPACT general secretary Peter McLoone warned of possible social unrest if the Government pushed ahead with wage cuts without agreement.

However, a union source said he expected “no knee-jerk response to the breakdown of the partnership talks” to emerge from today’s meeting.

It is expected union plans will revolve around a return to widespread industrial action in early January.