Government facing industrial action from teachers and gardaí if penalties imposed

The Government could face industrial action by thousands of teachers and gardaí if it imposes financial penalties on them for repudiating the Lansdowne Road Agreement.

The agreement, which comes into force on Friday, has been rejected by the Association of Secondary Teachers in Ireland (ASTI), the Garda Representative Association and the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI).

This means that around 30,000 teachers and gardaí could lose thousands of euro if the Government enforces financial sanctions as part of the so-called Fempi legislation which can be brought to bear on members of organisations that have rejected the Lansdowne Road Agreement.