Negotiators bid to avert Garda strike

Independent State negotiators have been called in to help avert the pending national policing crisis that is now just six days away.

The Department of Justice last night confirmed in a statement that it and the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI) had agreed to "utilise the services of the State industrial relations institutions, on an ad hoc basis, to augment the current processes in an attempt to avert the planned industrial action by AGSI members".

Talks between the Garda Representative Association and the Department of Justice are to begin this weekend.

Sources said the development was a recognition by the department and the GRA, which represents 10,300 members, that they “need assistance” to try and prevent the strike from going ahead next Friday.

It is seen as a “step in the right direction” as Garda associations have not had direct negotiation rights at the WRC — although the body will only “augment”, and not replace, the current negotiations between the department and the GRA.

The development comes after two weeks of failed crisis talks between the associations and the department.

The Association of Garda Sergeants & Inspectors (AGSI), representing 2,000 members, has not been given access to the WRC and the department said its talks with the AGSI were “ongoing”.

The AGSI yesterday said nothing had been put forward by the department that could avert the strike and said members were “more entrenched” than ever.

A joint statement by the GRA and the department said: “The Department of Justice and the Garda Representative Association have agreed to utilise the services of the state industrial relations institutions on an ad hoc basis, to augment the current negotiations in an attempt to avert the planned industrial action by members.”

Sources indicate that next Wednesday is the “absolute latest” that the talks can run until as any offer coming out of the WRC would have to be presented to the 33-member central executive committee of the GRA.

Both GRA negotiators and the Department of Justice are conscious of September’s proposal, which was agreed by both parties but rejected by the GRA committee.

It is possible that the WRC could ask the GRA to suspend strike action as a gesture of “good faith” in order to give time for serious negotiations.

The protracted talks have placed Garda management in an invidious position as it had hoped for a conclusion to the process by yesterday, so it can begin negotiations with the associations regarding providing emergency cover in a contingency plan.

Garda management did meet with AGSI leaders yesterday. Unlike the GRA, the AGSI has not suggested exemptions for any essential units on strike days.