Garda pay row threat to public sector deal
THE country’s public sector pay deal is under threat following a surprise intervention by senior Garda bosses.
Senior Government figures have been left alarmed after chief superintendents and superintendents embarked on a work-to-rule over pay.
The Irish Independent has learned two bodies – whose members have never engaged in industrial action – are now considering an escalation of action. At a private meeting of superintendents in Dublin, the prospect of strikes were discussed. Meanwhile, the Irish
Independent has seen correspondence between the chief superintendents’ body and Acting Garda Commissioner Dónall Ó Cualáin about industrial action. In the letter, the gardaí say they are not prepared to attend staff meetings – in a move that has caused consternation in Government.
There are fears at senior Government level that any decision to appease the gardaí could cause a ripple effect, leading to a pay clamour among other public sector groups.
THE country’s public sector pay deal is under threat following a surprise intervention by senior Garda bosses.
Senior Government figures have been left alarmed after chief superintendents and superintendents embarked on a work-to-rule over pay.
The Irish Independent has learned that two bodies – whose members have never engaged in industrial action in the past – are now considering ramping up their actions.
At a private meeting of superintendents in Dublin, the prospect of strike action was discussed.
Meanwhile, the Irish Independent has seen correspondence between the chief superintendents body and Acting Garda Commissioner Dónall Ó Cualáin (inset) about industrial action.
In the letter, the senior gardaí say they are not prepared to attend staff meetings – in a move that has caused deep consternation in Government.
General Secretary Fergus Healy wrote: “Following a meeting of the National Executive ... I am directed to inform you that the association will not, from today until further notice, be attending any further industrial relations meetings with Garda management and are withdrawing from all activities in relation to the Modernisation & Renewal Programme.”
Central to the Garda row is what senior officers claim is a pay anomaly.
They argue that when an officer is promoted from inspector to superintendent, they suffer a pay reduction of between €4,000 and €6,000.
Superintendents and their bosses say that they received assurances that this discrepancy would be resolved, in a “side deal” that was struck in November 2016. However, months later, they have now effectively pulled out of the new Lansdowne Road Agreement.
The re-emergence of the pay row has caught senior Government figures by surprise.
There are fears at senior Government level that any decision to appease gardaí could cause a ripple effect, meaning a clamour among other groups.
In his letter, Mr Healy flagged the concerns of his members.
“The association is advising that we will continue to fulfil our duties as per legislation to the highest standards – but will not engage with the Modernisation and Renewal programme or other IR related meetings until the issue is resolved.” Sources say that removing the pay anomaly in question – which is central to the row – would cost the State about €1m per annum.
Superintendents also claim to have twice been refused access to the Labour Court – despite previous assurances from Government that access would be extended to gardaí.
The organisation said it was understood the deal struck by other Garda unions, the GRA and AGSI, in November 2016, would also apply to its members.
The deal brokered at the Workplace Relations Commission averted strike action that the Government feared could have had untold consequences.
But after a series of interactions with the Department of Justice, superintendents say the Government has not honoured its side of the agreement.