Garda supervisors vote for pay deal but hit out at grievances ‘limbo’

GARDA supervisors have accused the Government of denying them a means of settling their grievances while at the same time outlawing their right to strike or form a trade union.

They have also warned that they are taking legal advice on launching a constitutional challenge to legislation being drafted by the Government.

A special delegate conference of the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI) in Athlone was told yesterday that mid-ranking members of the force were being left in an industrial relations limbo.

Association president Antoinette Cunningham said it was ridiculous that two Government-commissioned reports had produced findings that were “polar opposites”.

A study, set up under the former chairman of the Labour Court John Horgan, recommended the Garda associations should be registered as trade unions and allowed to engage in collective bargaining with Garda management.

Its findings were published last December, shortly after gardaí went to the brink of strike action in a row over pay and conditions. However, a separate report, drawn up by former senior civil servant John Murphy and published last month, said the associations should not be granted trade union status nor have access to the Workplace Relations Commission.

The Government is planning to introduce legislation to implement Mr Murphy’s recommendations.

“A flat ‘no’ is not the answer to our problems,” Ms Cunningham told the Irish Independent yesterday.

“They cannot refuse us the right to form a trade union without offering an alternative means of settling disputes.”

Ms Cunningham’s comments came as the AGSI conference recommended acceptance of the terms offered on pay and conditions under the Government’s public service stability agreement.

Meanwhile, the rank-and-file Garda Representative Association (GRA) also announced that its members had accepted the terms on a vote of 63pc to 37pc.

Association general secretary Pat Ennis said: “Today’s ballot result will see an increase in take-home pay for our members from January 1.”