THE GARDA REPRESENTATIVE Association (GRA) has rejected a set of proposals put forward by the government in an attempt to avert Friday’s strike action.
The proposals, which Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Paschal Donohoe had described as “substantial”, were presented to the negotiating team yesterday and discussed by the association’s central executive committee last night. They unanimously rejected them.
Measures included the assimilation of rent allowance into core pay, which would slightly increase allowances and overtime payments as they are paid as a percentage of the core wage. This would be done on a phased basis over two years.
Payment for ‘parading time’ – the 15 minutes before their shift starts – was also offered.
In return, members of the GRA would have had to accept the full terms of the Lansdowne Road Agreement – including working 30 free hours – and comply with a rake of productivity measures contained in the force’s recently published modernisation and renewal programme.
Members of the GRA’s committee were said to be disappointed by the offer, which followed days of intense negotiations. There were particular issues with locking gardaí into the additional 15 minutes a day parading time, as it would extend their working week to 61.5 hours.
It is understood the GRA is open to progressing to the Labour Court this week with the dispute, if suggested by the government side.
Speaking to RTÉ News, GRA President Ciaran O’Neill said the association was “always open to talks”.
However, members have been informed that, for now, Friday’s withdrawal of labour will be going ahead.
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