Pay and protest to dominate Garda talks

PAY, pensions and protest action will dominate much of the annual conference of the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI) in Galway over the next three days.

As intensive weekend talks between Garda representatives and the Government dragged late into last night, middle-ranking gardaí will today begin examining how they can ratchet up their dispute with Government.

Garda associations at all ranks are furious at a triple whammy of pay cuts, pension levies and increased workload resulting from the moratorium on recruitment and promotions in the public service. Concern over these issues are reflected in the high number of motions to do with pay and pensions. Some 12 such motions have been lodged compared to two or three motions in most years.

The AGSI represents more than 2,000 members.

One of the motions, from Dublin West region, is calling on the national executive to examine Garda procedures and publish a document telling members what they must adhere to in any work to rule action.

According to the Garda Code, members are forbidden from using personal equipment. Any work to rule action could direct members to comply with these procedures and not use personal mobile phones and computers and personal GPS systems.

The Garda Representative Association (GRA) last week called on its members to “withdraw goodwill” by refusing to use personal equipment. It marked the first phase of its campaign following the results of a GRA questionnaire last February, which showed that nine out of 10 members who responded wanted to take some form of industrial action, short of withdrawing their services.

However, there were reports last week that only a small fraction of members had followed the GRA request, placing a question mark not only over the GRA’s campaign but any similar one by the AGSI.

Another motion at the conference, from the Kildare branch, is calling on members not to volunteer to perform duty in prisons in the event of a withdrawal of labour by prison officers.

Two motions relate to pensions, including one calling for an end to the uncertainty surrounding possible taxation of gratuity lump sums on retirement. On promotions, a motion from six divisions wants the moratorium on recruitment and promotions to be abandoned, stating there will be further vacancies this year arising from the retirement of “large numbers”.

Some 31 inspectors retired last year (up to November), compared with 13 the previous year. More than 170 sergeants retired, compared to 52 in 2008. Last January, Justice Minister Dermot Ahern said he would fill 120 vacancies at sergeant rank and 28 at inspector rank.

Other motions include:

* Transport: There are five motions from 10 divisions highlighting concerns over the state of the Garda fleet.

* Stab vest: There are two motions calling for stab vests to be replaced by more modern versions which are less bulky and sweaty.

* Drugs: Dublin South Central branch is calling for drug retrieval toilet suites to be installed in one Garda station in every division. The same branch calls for “more effective legislation” to combat drug driving.

* Fairs: Laois/Offaly branch wants new legislation to regulate horse fairs and livestock fairs in towns and villages

* Garda Reserve: Two branches want the Garda Reserve, estimated by AGSI to cost €4m annually, to be disbanded and the money put into the force instead.

* Mental health: Westmeath branch is demanding that the HSE “as a matter of urgency” adhere to protocols regarding the escort of mentally ill patients.

* Uniform: Cork city branch wants legislation preventing other workers, such as security staff, from mimicking Garda uniforms, equipment and transport.