GRA pulls back from plans to ballot for strike action

THE organisation representing rank-and-file gardaí has rowed back on its plans to ballot to strike over pay and conditions.

The Garda Representative Association (GRA) has sent a questionnaire to its 11,600 members to find out their views on taking part in industrial action over pay cuts.

The GRA said it had taken the decision on “moral grounds” to establish the level of anger and desire to take action over the continued Government policy to reduce Garda pay.

GRA general secretary PJ Stone said there was unprecedented anger in the force over the issue of pay. “Our 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.

“We are all collectively aware of the poor state of the economy, but we are seeing rising levels of resentment that Garda pay is disproportionately cut to pay for the unregulated greed of others overseen by this very same Government,” he said.

Members will receive the questionnaire from today through the postal system, and are asked to return their completed questionnaire by February 10.

Meanwhile, following a request by the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI), the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) is to assist the Garda representative body in its bid for union recognition.

The undertaking came at a meeting yesterday between AGSI general secretary Joe Dirwan, president Dan Hanley and treasurer Willie Gleeson with ICTU president Jack O’Connor and general secretary David Begg.

ICTU confirmed it is to explore aspects of police affiliation to the trade union movement in the context of the European Union with a view to their possible application to the Irish situation.

Speaking after the meeting AGSI general secretary Joe Dirwan said he was pleased by the outcome.

“We are very pleased with the outcome of the meeting with ICTU which was held at our request.”

“We discussed the deplorable treatment of public sector people, including the gardaí, by the Government and we also informed ICTU of the intense frustration of our members at the lack of trade union status for AGSI,” he said.

The AGSI delegation outlined the severe financial difficulties that many members are now in as a result of the cuts in pay and asked ICTU to study police representation in Europe on legal and industrial relations grounds.