Gardaí agree on interim rota but await more talks
Issues go ‘far beyond’ roster debate
TENSIONS have cooled between rank-and-file gardaí and Commissioner Drew Harris following a new agreement – which may resolve the contentious roster dispute once and for all.
At a meeting between the four Garda associations and Garda management yesterday, it was decided an interim roster will be introduced ahead of fresh negotiations.
The latest development comes following a breakthrough meeting on Friday in which gardaí agreed to call off their planned strike. The majority of gardaí will be allowed to keep their current roster of four days on and four days off, working 12-hour shifts.
However, non-core units, such as divisional drug units, traffic units and community policing, would work the so-called Westmanstown roster – six days on (ten-hour shifts) and four off.
This has caused some disquiet among members, who are set to remain in the Westmanstown roster, some 40% of GRA members. But in an email sent to its 11,000 members, seen by the Irish Daily Mail, GRA general secretary Ronan Slevin wrote: ‘The rationale for accepting our own proposal as presented by management was that it is now the only proposal on the table.
‘To reject our own proposal at this point would have been illogical and, in our view, would have stretched credibility.’
Mr Slevin added that the interim rosters are not ‘fully agreed’ and that further negotiations will begin, which will involve an independent chairperson.
‘If any agreement is reached in principle, this will have to be balloted on by all members as previously committed to by the Central Executive Committee.’
The Commissioner and senior Garda management clarified a number of points at yesterday’s meeting. They confirmed that the protections in the Working Time Agreement 2012 will govern the rosters from November 6.
The Commissioner also agreed that a ‘business case’ can be presented on a divisional/regional basis to determine if 24/7 core policing is required for roads policing. A frontline garda in Dublin told the Mail that many of his colleagues believe the GRA need to keep the pressure on Commissioner Harris. ‘The issues that must be addressed go far beyond the roster debate,’ the Garda member said. ‘Pay, better training and equipment are things that we desperately need if we’re to police the country effectively.’ On Friday, frontline gardaí agreed not to strike on November 10 or to refuse overtime shifts over the next four Tuesdays as planned. In a statement, Garda HQ confirmed that ‘it was agreed at today’s meeting that an interim roster will come into place shortly. ‘It was also agreed at today’s meeting that all four Garda associations will, within a short period of time, engage with Garda management in internal negotiations on a new roster.’
The compromise came as a major relief to the Commissioner following fears that policing plans on today’s Budget Day would be impacted. There were concerns that several districts in Dublin would be left short as officers are drafted in for a ‘ring of steel’ around Leinster House today, amid fears of ugly protests. The GRA offered to accept the proposals and defer its industrial action to allow negotiations continue on a new roster from November 6.
In addition, office staff ordinarily used to working 9am-5pm will return to their pre-Covid working pattern. The terms of the agreement was sent in an email to the 11,000 members of the GRA. The GRA had argued the former roster would not be conducive to effective policing and would damage work-life balance.
The rosters are ‘not fully agreed’