EU presidency policing arrangements at risk as gardaí back industrial action

GRA general secretary Ronan Slevin said the survey results clearly show that GRA members 'have had enough'. Stock picture

Over 90% of rank-and-file gardaí who responded to a ballot have voted in favour of industrial action that could affect policing arrangements for Ireland's EU presidency.

Some gardaí are consistently working up to 30 hours' overtime a week, with holidays cancelled, to facilitate policing the EU presidency, according to the Garda Representative Association, which represents 11,600 gardaí and detectives.

It said this was unsustainable, was angering gardaí, and was a clear breach of labour laws, including the Working Time Directive.

Now, 4,182 rank-and-file gardaí have voted in favour of industrial action — 94.2% of those who responded to a new GRA survey, published on Tuesday.

Some 256 gardaí who responded to the survey voted against industrial action, while 3,977 gardaí who responded to the survey (93.6%) voted in favour of industrial action to include a work-to-rule position for any forthcoming EU presidency events.

Some 273 of GRA members who responded to the survey (6.4%) voted against a work-to-rule during policing of the EU presidency.

About 45% of 11,600 GRA members voted in the survey.

The results come almost two weeks after public-sector strikes closed schools, libraries, and parks and led to thousands of cancelled hospital appointments due to anger over a delay to implement a new public sector pay deal, as many struggle to cope with the escalating cost of living.

GRA general secretary Ronan Slevin said the survey results clearly showed GRA members "have had enough."

Garda management has been breaching the Working Time Agreement and the European Working Time Directive since policing of the EU presidency began, claimed Mr Slevin.

"We have some members who are consistently working 20, 25, even 30 hours over their scheduled weekly hours and this is simply unsustainable going forward and can have a seriously detrimental effect on their health and wellbeing," said Mr Slevin.

“Our members by their very nature do not want to be found wanting when they get the call to stand up and put their shoulders to the wheel, but they cannot be simply taken for granted and expected to be on call and available even when Garda management fail to abide by our reasonable working conditions.

“The policing involved with Ireland’s hosting of the EU presidency has meant that over 70 days within these six months have been classed as ‘extraordinary’, which means that our members’ annual leave and rest days have been summarily cancelled and overtime has been forced upon them.

“This has now taken its toll on many of these members and the results of this survey show the level of frustration and anger involved.” 

A meeting will be held by GRA leaders on Thursday “to decide on an appropriate course of action", said Mr Slevin.