GARDAÍ IN TIPPERARY, the north Dublin Metropolitan Region, Cork North and in one Kerry district have voted in favour of industrial action and no confidence in the Minister for Justice and the Garda Commissioner.
Around 200 gardaí in Tipperary passed a motion of no confidence in Alan Shatter and Commissioner Martin Callinan at meetings of the Garda Representative Association (GRA) last night.
Officers also voted in favour of industrial action which could include options such as so-called ‘blue flu’- calling in sick en-masse- and work-to-rule.
Similar votes were passed at meetings of the GRA in the north Dublin Metropolitan Region, Cork North and in one Kerry district last night amid growing unrest among rank-and-file gardaí.
The votes come on foot of similar motions being passed at GRA meetings in Cork city and Limerick last week.
GRA president John Parker said that some of his members are holding meetings at district level, such as in Kerry last night, while others are holding meetings of “four, six or eight” districts where “heated” views are being exchanged.
He said that “all forms of industrial action” including ‘blue flu’ and work-to-rule are being considered but could not say how many officers in total have now voted in favour of the proposed motions.
But he told TheJournal.ie that the recent votes at meetings were not “posturing” but instead the GRA establishing its position similar to the government tabling its proposals as it seeks to negotiate a successor to the Croke Park Agreement on public sector pay and reform.
“It’s better to get a sense of feelings on the ground at this point in time rather than lulling the government into fall sense of security. At least our cards are on the table,” Parker said.
He said that those attending the meetings were “normal, sensible” people who believe that the Minister “hasn’t listened as regards resources”.
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